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TULSA, Oklahoma - Little-known Briton Graeme Storm upstaged the game's biggest names by charging into an early two-stroke lead in the opening round of the US PGA golf championship today.
The 29-year-old Englishman, who won his first European tour title at last month's French Open, fired a flawless five-under-par 65 in sapping heat at Southern Hills Country Club.
Storm set the tone for the day with three birdies in his first four holes before ending it two ahead of twice major champion John Daly.
American Arron Oberholser was alone in third after shooting a four-birdie 68, three ahead of defending champion Tiger Woods who bogeyed two of his last three holes for a 71.
Colombia's Camilo Villegas carded a 69 to share fourth place with Austrian Markus Brier, 2006 US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy of Australia, Britain's Lee Westwood and American Mark Wilson.
Daly, a notable absentee from Southern Hills Country Club in the build-up, grabbed the limelight among the early starters.
Playing aggressively off the tees, the big-hitting American birdied four of his first 13 holes before carding a 67.
Daly, who became one of the most unlikely major winners of all time by clinching the 1991 PGA championship at Crooked Stick as the ninth alternate, was delighted with his start.
"It was one of those rounds where I was very aggressive off the tee," the 41-year-old told reporters after mixing four birdies with a lone bogey. "I didn't know what else to do.
"I haven't played this course since '94 and didn't play a practice round this week because it was too hot. But the angles were really good for me today and I hit the driver real well."
Daly, who has made only five cuts in 17 PGA tour starts this season, said he had no idea if he could maintain his form for the rest of the week.
"I don't know how well I'll play the next day or three days but I've got a little bit of confidence in certain areas," he added. "I didn't hit a lot of fairways with the driver but I hit my lines and I made a lot of putts today.
"To play well you've got to have confidence and I've had none, so hopefully this will help."
Three-times champion Woods, who racked up four birdies and five bogeys, felt he hit the ball better than his scoring indicated.
"That's a good sign heading into the next three days," said the world number one, who is desperate to win his first major in 12 months. "I just need to clean up my round a little bit.
British Open champion Padraig Harrington and 2005 winner Phil Mickelson were among the late starters.
- REUTERS
