Rose blossoms in PGA

Justin Rose made it a day to remember on his first appearance in a major championship in America today.

The 22-year-old from Hampshire in England, growing in stature with every passing month, began the United States PGA championship at Hazeltine National with a three under par 69.

It put him just one behind early pacesetter Jim Furyk - and ahead of both Tiger Woods and Ernie Els.

Woods, winner of the Masters and US Open this season, declared himself "very pleased" with a one-under 71 in the windy conditions, but playing partner and Open champion Els had to feel some disappointment at a 72 after setting off with two birdies.

Rose turned in a level par 36 at the same venue where Tony Jacklin won the 1970 US Open, then had four birdies and a bogey on the back nine to join Australian Peter Lonard in second place in the clubhouse.

Meanwhile, Colin Montgomerie and Sergio Garcia both had desperately disappointing finishes.

Montgomerie, beaten in a play-off for the title in 1995, bogeyed the last two holes for a two-over-par 74 and Garcia, runner-up to Woods three years ago, dropped three shots in the last three for a 75.

Rose certainly enjoyed the day more than another debutant, Surrey's Paul Casey. Last season's European tour Rookie of the Year was lying next-to-last last after a nightmare 13-over-par 85.

Play had been delayed was nearly three hours because of the threat of lightning on the course where a fan was killed during the 1991 United States Open.

The star group of Woods, Els and defending champion David Toms had each hit just one shot when the suspension came at 8.38am.

On their return Els chipped in from 45 feet and birdied the long 11th as well. But he went in the water off the tee at the 402-yard 16th and could not regain the lost ground.

Woods, trying to become the first player to win three majors in a season twice now that he can not land the Grand Slam, was two under after three, bogeyed the 18th and first after poor chips, but hit a superb iron to four feet on the short fourth and parred in from there.

"The wind was going in all different directions and swirling," said the world number one.

"I hit a couple of stray ones and didn't hit my driver very well, but I kept the ball in play most of the day, hit some really good irons and made some good putts. Overall I'm very pleased."

Montgomerie thinned a chip at the short 17th and then left another 20 feet short on the last and after racing his putt six feet past did well to make the return and drop only one more shot.

"I'm not very happy about that," said the 39-year-old Scot, who in the Open at Muirfield last month had dumb-founded everybody by following a course record 64 with a third round 84.

"I had just one birdie (at the 18th, his ninth) and that's not enough. I had lots of chances."

Montgomerie, still to win a major of course, looked in no mood to linger for a chat, but one American reporter did have time to slip in the now customary question about his treatment from the crowd.

The Ryder Cup star, who earlier this year threatened never to play in the States again, took a long pause and then replied: "Fine".

The prospect of some heckling had clearly been thought of by officials as five uniformed police officers were assigned to Montgomerie's group.

Garcia, who had his own problems at the US Open in June, was going nicely at one under with seven to play, but a double bogey at the 402-yard 16th - a hole Greg Owen eagled earlier - was a huge setback.

"I got the wrong club and went over the green into the water," said the Spaniard. "But it wasn't my only bad shot. I hit four or five and I just didn't play very well.

"I also three-putted twice from just off the green and never got going. You have to realise you are going to have days like this, but it's unfortunate when it's in a tournament you really want to win."

Furyk turned in level par, but then covered the front nine in 32 to set the target.