Trahan takes early initiative

American Ryder Cup hopeful DJ Trahan made an impressive start to the 90th US PGA Championship today as the first round got under way at Oakland Hills.

The final major of the year counts as the last event for Americans to qualify for the eight automatic spots on Paul Azinger’s team for Valhalla next month.

Trahan, 11th on the US Ryder Cup points list, was one of at least a dozen golfers playing with the pressure of sealing a place without relying on one of the four captain’s picks as he teed off at the par-70, 7,395-yard course near Detroit.

One of the very early starters on a cool, clear and sunny morning, he responded in the best possible way, with an eagle at the par-five second hole.

Scotland’s Alastair Forsyth was in the first group out from the first tee and had an eventful start to the second US PGA Championship of his career. The Glaswegian, who missed the cut in 2003 at Oak Hill, opened with bogey, birdie, bogey, birdie to stand at level-par after four rounds.

With defending champion Tiger Woods unable to bid for a third US PGA victory in a row following season-ending knee surgery, the tournament is viewed as wide open with world number two and 2005 champion Phil Mickelson the bookmakers’ 10-1 favourite.

Much is expected of a European contingent led by eight of the team that won the Ryder Cup in formidable style at Oakland Hills four years ago.

First out of that group was England’s Paul Casey, who opened with a par at the 10th hole but double-bogeyed the par-four 11th hole to stand at two over par after two holes.