Golf: Elkington leads in Georgia after birdie blitz

Steve Elkington birdied the final three holes and carded an eight-under-par 64 to take a one-shot lead over Phil Mickelson after the first round of the BellSouth Classic in Georgia.

The Australian overcame a double-bogey on the third hole with a remarkable seven birdies on the front nine at the TPC at Sugarloaf. He started a string of four straight birdies on the fourth and reached the turn at five-under 31 before adding three more on the back nine.

Elkington said. "It's a real driver's course. You can really drive the ball here and there are plenty of holes out here where you have to hit very precise iron shots."

Mickelson is one stroke ahead of a group of five players that includes Ireland’s Padraig Harrington, Dudley Hart, Frank Nobilo, Ian Leggatt, Thomas Bjorn and Jesper Parnevik.

Some 25 players are within four shots of the lead, while 75 of 143 players in the field broke par.

Vijay Singh carded a three-under 69 to finish tied for 26th.

David Toms, the reigning PGA Championship winner, was one of 14 players to shoot 68.

Scott McCarron, who claimed his second BellSouth title last year, carded a five-under 67 and is tied for eighth.