Dustin Johnson earned a one shot lead after the first round of the PGA Championship ©Getty Images

America's Dustin Johnson has a one shot lead at the US PGA Championship after carding a six-under-par opening round at Whistling Straits golf course in Wisconsin, the third consecutive major he has led at the end of the first day. 

Johnson had come close to claiming his first major the last time the Championship was held on the course back in 2010, where a two stroke penalty in the final stages of the tournament ended his challenge, but his 2015 challenge got off to a perfect start with an impressive round.

Three birdies in the opening four holes saw Johnson get off to a promising start, but a bogey on the third of those holes threatened his charge towards the top of the early tournament leaderboard.

It proved to be the only blip on the 31-year-old’s scorecard as consecutive birdies on the 10th and 11th saw Johnson emerge as one of the favourites to be the clubhouse leader at the close of play, a feat he achieved with an eagle on the 16th.

At the US Open at University Place in Washington in June, Johnson held a share of the lead heading into the final round only to end up finishing second to Jordan Spieth.

Johnson also led last month's Open Championship at The Old Course after 36 holes, but plummeted to two rounds of 75 on the weekend to fall out of contention as Zach Johnson went on to win the event in a play-off.

Johnson  lies one shot clear of Sweden’s David Lingmerth after he produced a superb back nine, racking up five birdies to end the day on five-under-par.

His opening round looks likely to see the 28-year-old make the cut at the tournament for the first time, having missed out on his only other appearance in 2013.

Jordan Spieth began his pursuit of a third major of the year with a one-under-par round
Jordan Spieth began his pursuit of a third major of the year with a one-under-par round ©Getty Images

Matt Kuchar is one of five Americans who sit two shots behind their compatriot after the first day of the four-day Championships and is joined by Harris English, J.B Holmes, Scott Piercy and Russell Henley, who all carded excellent opening rounds.

Australia’s Jason Day, a runner-up in a major on three occasions, also finished on four-under-par, alongside compatriot Matt Jones and New Zealand’s Danny Lee to end the day well placed.

World number one Rory McIlroy, in his first tournament since he ruptured ankle ligaments in June after playing football. carded an opening round of 71 as he began the defence of his title, 

The Northern Irishman's solid start saw him finish with a host of players on one-under-par, including Spieth, bidding to win his third major of the year having triumphed at both the US Open and Masters.

Four-time champion Tiger Woods, who last won the tournament in 2007,  looks in danger of missing the cut after carding a three-over-par round of 75 after five bogeys prevented him for gaining any momentum.



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