Johnson takes lead in Milwaukee

Richard Johnson has grabbed the lead after one round of the US Bank Championship by firing a seven-under-par 63, which included a hole-in-one on the par-three 14th.

The 31-year-old Swede was two-under through his first 10 holes before making three straight birdies from numbers 11-13. Johnson needed only one shot to complete the 14th, a 188-yard hole.

Johnson, who has missed three straight cuts and six of his last seven, has not finished better than 37th in a tournament this season.

He currently has a one-shot lead over a South African brothers Dean and Brenden Pappas, who both carded a six-under 64.

The older of the two, Dean Pappas started strong, birdying three of his first four holes while beginning on the back nine. He finished with seven birdies and a bogey on the par-four fourth.

Brenden Pappas started on the front nine, bogeying his opening hole before going on to also collect seven birdies.

Neither ever has won on the PGA Tour, but both have finished second at the Southern Farm Bureau Classic. Dean was a runner-up there in 2002, while Brenden matched the feat a year later.

Three Americans - Robert Garrigus, Dean Wilson and Patrick Sheehan - are tied for fourth place at five-under, two shots off the pace.

"The greens are perfect," Garrigus said. "And I actually finally read some putts right. Last year, I had no clue where anything was going, and this year, I finally got my eyes dialed into the greens."

A player who was highly criticised for his decision not to enter the British Open field, Kenny Perry is tied with 22 other players for 17th place after shooting a three-under 67 on Thursday.

Perry has been one of the hottest players on the PGA Tour of late, winning each of his last two starts and three of five. However, he chose not to make a run at his first career major title at Royal Birkdale, opting to honour his commitment to play here.

There are 10 players at four-under, including defending champion Joe Ogilvie, who double-bogeyed his opening hole but finished the round with two of his seven birdies.