Westwood, Chappell, Palmer lead PGA

England’s Lee Westwood and Americans Kevin Chappell and Ryan Palmer have taken the lead after the opening round of the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club.

The trio each carded six-under rounds of 65 to set the pace, with Westwood finishing with a flurry, making five birdies in his last six holes.

The Englishman, formerly world No.1 but now ranked 34th, has spent the past six years full of near misses and is without a win in 66 major starts in his career.

He was third in the 2009 PGA Championship, 2009 and 2013 British Opens, 2008 and 2011 US Opens and 2012 Masters in addition to runner-up efforts at the 2010 Masters and British Open.

“I played well, hit a lot fairways, putted nicely, obviously which you need to do if you are going to shoot a low score,” Westwood said.

World No.1 Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, No.4 Henrik Stenson of Sweden, American veteran Jim Furyk, England’s Chris Wood and Edourdo Molinari of Italy shared fourth just one shot off the lead.

McIlroy, winner at the British Open and WGC Bridgestone Invitational in his past two starts was just one back despite a double bogey and bogey in successive holes at the turn thanks to eight birdies.

“One of the big things for me, especially in major championships is getting off to good starts and being right up there, three-time major winner,” McIlroy said.

“I have been able to do that today.”

Australia’s tilt was led by Matt Jones with the New South Welshman signing for a 68 to be tied 11th just three shots back.

Jason Day and Geoff Ogilvy sit poised to make a run at the leaders after solid two-under 69s.

Day, coming into the event off the back of a withdrawal in Ohio, hit the ball solidly and made three birdies but failed to take advantage with his putter.

The Queenslander missed four makeable birdie putts, one from just two feet and three-putted the 16th green for his lone bogey.

“I had a couple of costly three-putts but I played good and I’m excited about my start,” Day said.

World No.2 Adam Scott failed to get his game going, forced to watch Westwood pull away in his group as he battled to an even-par 71.

Scott had to birdie his final hole of the day to get back even with the card after an uncharacteristic poor ball-striking day.

“I didn’t play very well today. My rhythm is out, I am not hitting it down my line and that makes it hard to get around. And then a couple of errors compounded things and scrambling here was hard,” Scott said.

Marc Leishman was rocking at three-under through 13 holes but dropped three shots coming home for an even-par 71.

John Senden struggled to a 75; the same score posted by club pro Stuart Deane and Steven Bowditch.

Tiger Woods, the champion in 2000 when the PGA Championship was last at Valhalla never looked overly comfortable on the way to a three-over 74.

In doubt with a back injury in the lead up the 14-time major winner made just one birdie with his four bogeys.

A lot of bad shots and I never got a putt to the hole.

While Woods was poor, he had a better day then defending champion Jason Dufner who was forced to quit the championship after 10 holes with a neck injury.

Dufner made an eight on the par-5 10th hole to fall to eight-over par for the round before he pulled the pin.

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