Big guns start firing

Ernie Els and Tiger Woods wasted no time justifying their star billing when the United States PGA championship resumed after a storm delay of nearly three hours in Minnesota today.

On the Hazeltine National course where a fan died when struck by lightning during the 1991 US Open, officials suspended play less than 90 minutes into the event as the skies darkened.

Els, winner of the Open last month, and playing partner Woods, the reigning Masters and US Open champion, had hit just their opening tee shots at the time.

But when they returned at 11.30am Els, having played a poor approach short of the green at the 410-yard 10th, chipped in from 45 feet and then holed from 10ft for another birdie at the long 11th.

World number one Woods, trying to lift the title for the third time in four years and become the first player ever to win three majors in a season twice, left his 25ft birdie attempt hanging on the lip at the 10th.

But he then played a brilliant chip to within inches of the flag from deep rough just short of the 11th green and when he also birdied the 465-yard 12th he and Els were sharing top spot at two under with twice US Open champion Lee Janzen.

Holder David Toms was the third member of the group with Els and Woods. The quiet American, who last August in Atlanta achieved the lowest total in major history, also birdied the 11th, but he followed that with a double bogey six to stand one over.

The delay meant the first round would inevitably spill into tomorrow - and there was the possibility of more rain later in the day.

Colin Montgomerie, accompanied by five police officers in what appeared to be an attempt to discourage any potential hecklers, was playing with Janzen and parred his first seven holes.

Fellow Scot Paul Lawrie, winner of the Wales Open last Sunday, set off with six pars in a row, but his partner Sergio Garcia, runner-up to Woods in 1999 when just 19, bogeyed the 412-yard fifth.

First of the Europeans into action - in the very first groups at 7.15am local time - were Swede Pierre Fulke and Surrey's Paul Casey.

But while Fulke could feel very satisfied with his one under par outward half of 35, last season's European tour Rookie of the Year Casey slumped to five over after eight.

Casey was making his debut in a major in America, but was fourth in the 1999 American college championship on the course - the one most famous for Tony Jacklin's 1970 US Open triumph.

He bogeyed the first three holes on the inward half, then ran up a double bogey seven at the 586-yard 15th.

Justin Rose and Greg Owen, also appearing in a United States major for the first time, each opened with two pars, as did Dubliner Paul McGinley. But Ian Woosnam and Jesper Parnevik each

bogeyed the 435-yard second.