Poulter leads European challenge

England’s Ian Poulter flew the flag for the Europeans in the opening round of the £3m Verizon Heritage Classic at Hilton Head Island as a number of others struggled to get going.

The Ryder Cup star carded a two-under-par 69 to lie six shots off the lead set by American Vaughn Taylor.

However, Poulter’s European team-mate Darren Clarke, who threw away a chance to win this event on the 72nd hole last year, had a terrible start after teeing off at the 10th.

The Ulsterman, coming into the tournament on the back of a decent performance at the Masters, bogeyed the 11th but then birdied the next.

Three dropped shots in a row from the 14th then left him four over as he turned in 38.

In contrast Poulter, who missed the first major of the season last week having dropped out of the world’s top 50 – enjoyed a bogey-free opening nine of 33.

A birdie at the par-four third was followed with a four at the 530-yard fifth and the short par-four ninth provided the Milton Keynes golfer with the chance to pick up another shot.

His only bogey came at the 436-yard 11th but he played regulation golf for the remainder of his round to post his name on an American-dominated leaderboard.

Taylor’s eight-under-par round of 63 began inauspiciously as, starting from the 10th, he carded five straight pars before his day burst into life with four successive birdies to turn in 31.

A bogey-five at the first hole appeared to have ended that run but he bounced back to register five birdies in eight holes – finishing at the ninth by hitting his 138-yard approach to seven feet.

It gave him a one-stroke lead over compatriot Jim Furyk, who had a flawless round which included seven birdies.

The American felt much more relaxed after the tough examination at Augusta last week and he felt that benefited him.

“I don’t think I’m doing anything in particular. I think after last week, experiencing The Masters and a major championship, that wherever it may be the next week it’s going to be a lot less going on and it’s going to feel easier and more relaxed,” said Taylor.

“The greens are pretty soft, there is no wind and if you’re hitting it straight you have a lot of short irons and wedges. You can definitely score if you’re hitting the ball well.”

Scoring was not so easy for some of the other big names in the field, with world number five Ernie Els managing only a level-par round of 71 – which included an eagle-three at the 502-yard second – while defending champion Peter Lonard had two birdies and two bogeys in registering the same score.

Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell played solidly with 14 straight pars before a birdie four at the 15th took him into red figures, where he remained after another par at the 16th.

English duo Greg Owen and Brian Davis were both one under after nine holes while Ireland’s Paul McGinley finished level par after two birdies and two bogeys.