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Buckle begins with 73 at US PGA

Asian Tour member Andrew Buckle fired a one-over-par 73 in the opening round of the US PGA Championship, the year's fourth and final major, on Thursday.

The talented Australian, who is presently third on the UBS Order of Merit, posted three birdies at Medinah Country Club but two bogeys and one double bogey dashed his hopes of an under-par start.

Lucas Glover and Chris Riley lead the event with 66s while world number one Tiger Woods and second-ranked Phil Mickelson opened with matching 69s, playing in the same group.

Former Asian regular Daniel Chopra opened his campaign with a steady 72, shooting four birdies against two bogeys and a double bogey while Korea's Choi Kyung-ju and Ted Purdy, a winner in Asia, carded 73s.

Korea's Hur Suk-ho, who enjoyed a tied 11th finish at the British Open last month, struggled with a 74.

August 18, 2006