Donald surges into Pebble beach lead

England’s Luke Donald swept into the early lead at the US PGA Tour’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-am in California today.

Donald, playing his first round at Spyglass Hill and starting on the back nine, reached the midway point of his round in a six-under-par 30 – and picked up all his shots from the 11th to 15th.

Seeking his third victory on American soil, the 28-year-old from High Wycombe had three birdies in a row, eagled the 14th and then made two on the short next.

Over at Pebble Beach, meanwhile, Brian Davis and Paul McGinley made fast starts to the tournament as well.

Londoner Davis set off on the back nine, birdied the 11th, then had three more in succession from the 14th.

And when he pitched to seven feet and made the putt on the long 18th he was out in a five-under 31 and a share of second place with Americans Steve Jones and Arron Oberholser.

Dubliner McGinley, playing the next three weeks in the United States, had a hat-trick of birdies from the second and then birdied the long sixth as well to be four-under and in joint fifth place.

Mansfield’s Greg Owen, third last year, and Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell were one-under after six and four holes respectively at Spyglass, while at Poppy Hills defending champion Phil Mickelson was one-over after nine holes.

Mickelson made three birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey six on the third.

Among the late starters, Scotland’s Sandy Lyle was level par after two on Pebble Beach’s inward half.