Langer & Elkington in contention with 68's

The top of the early leaderboard in Thursday's U.S. PGA Championship first round held many unsung names, but notable veterans Bernhard Langer and Steve Elkington were lurking close by.

Twice U.S. Masters champion Langer and 1995 U.S. PGA champion Elkington fired matching two-under-par 68s at Baltusrol Golf Club to finish a stroke behind joint pacesetters Ben Curtis and Trevor Immelman of South Africa.

The 47-year-old Langer, who has not won a tournament in three years, gave notice he is not yet finished in major golf by tying for fifth in last month's British Open at St Andrews.

"Well, I've been playing pretty good," said Langer, who captained the triumphant European Ryder Cup team at Oakland Hills last year.

"My last two tournaments, I finished fifth in both of them, the British Open and the Deutsche Bank in Europe."

The U.S. PGA Championship has not been the most successful major for Langer. In 18 appearances, he has never finished better than tied for 21st -- at PGA National in 1987.

The German was optimistic, though, after his strong start on Baltusrol's Lower Course.

"I've been playing good and I've got some confidence with me," he said. "I don't see any reason why I shouldn't be in there by Sunday."

By contrast, Australian Elkington has enjoyed some of his best success at the PGA Championship.

He secured his only major title in the 1995 tournament, beating Britain's Colin Montgomerie in a playoff at Riviera Country Club, and has produced three other top-10 finishes in the season's last major.

The 42-year-old, beset by injuries and ailments throughout his career, is healthy and aiming for a good showing at Baltusrol to have a chance of being picked for this year's Presidents Cup by International captain Gary Player.

Elkington, who tied for sixth at this year's Players Championship and shared fifth place at the PGA Tour stop in Milwaukee last month, played on the first four Presidents Cup teams but missed out on the last competition.

"I wouldn't say I'm a favourite to get picked, but if I do really well this week, I'd be a chance," said Elkington, who has not won a tournament in six years.

"I'd love to do it again."

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