Lancaster edges ahead in Illinois

Neal Lancaster got off to a flying start at the John Deere Classic after the American fired eight birdies in an opening round 64 to take a one-stroke lead.

Starting on the back nine at TPC Deere Run, Lancaster had picked up five shots by the halfway point of his round before birdieing the fourth, fifth and sixth.

A bogey on the ninth brought him back to seven under-par but the 44-year-old’s effort was still good enough to head the field from quintet Duffy Waldorf, Kenny Perry, Paul Stankowski, Jason Dufner and Scott Gutschewski.

“I just went out and tried to not put any pressure on myself,” Lancaster said.

“I haven’t been playing very well for about the last six years, so I just went out and kind of played it as a practice round, just tried to enjoy it and didn’t know what to expect.”

Waldorf also started in impressive fashion, recording birdies on four of his first six holes.

After four more birdies saw the 44-year-old draw level with Lancaster, Waldorf bogeyed the final hole to fall one shot off the pace.

“I was very happy with the round obviously,” he said.

“It was nice. The front side, I was really strong with my putting.”

Dufner, by contrast, finished with four birdies in his last seven holes to earn a share of second place.

England’s Greg Owen shot a one-over 72 after an eventful round containing four birdies and five bogeys.

Zach Johnson, who captured his first major championship at The Masters earlier this season, shot a one under-par round of 70.

Ranked 15th in the world, Johnson started on the back nine and overcame an early bogey to post birdies at the 15th and 17th.

After a bogey on the third, he birdied the next before parring the rest of his round.

“I thought I played pretty average,” Johnson said.

“A few good shots here and there and a couple poor ones. My putting was pretty inconsistent.”

Johnson is the only player among the world’s top 45 players in the event.

Defending champion John Senden recorded two of three double-bogeys on the final four holes to finish seven over-par.