Walton is four behind as rain upsets play

KENNY PERRY birdied the last hole in the gathering gloom to set the pace on 66 awhile a brilliant burst of scoring swept Ian Woosnam to within a shot of the lead after the rain affected first round of the USPGA championship in Louisville, Kentucky, yesterday.

Woosnam was among 60 of the 50 strong who could not finish their rounds after a three hours 47 minutes stoppage, but he stands five under par with four to play.

The stoppage also seemed to benefit Philip Walton. He had four to play on the resumption but he signed off a long day with a 30 foot birdie putt for a two under par 70. "That was nice," he said. "I'm in good form, but it's been too hot for me this week. Tuesday was unbelievable."

Two over par after seven holes, he hit a seven iron to 12 feet on the 165 yard eighth, struck two drivers to the back of the green at the long 10th, pitched to three feet on the 15th just before the stoppage and then finished in style after putting his second to the 18th in sand.

Woosnam, only one under for six holes when the hold up came in mid afternoon, was grateful for the much cooler conditions in the evening resumption.

He hit a six iron to a foot on the eighth, knocked in a 25 foot birdie putt at the next and then holed from similar range for an eagle on the 565 yard 10th after a superb three wood approach.

It took him alongside early clubhouse leader Steve Elkington, the defending champion, but just behind him left handed Phil Mickelson had four birdies in five holes from the seventh to move to six under.

Mark James charged to four under after six holes, but then bogeyed the seventh and eighth and that dropped him below Nick Faldo, who had earlier come in with a 69. Colin Montgomerie, meanwhile, was one under with five to go.

Faldo packed eight birdies into his adventurous round, but also five bogeys. "That's going to happen when you attack the flag here - and that's what I feel you have to do," he said.

"You've got to play aggressively and I'm happy with that core. There are a couple of holes where I need to rethink my strategy, but that's a good start."

With the event continuing its tradition of putting the season's three major winners together on the opening two days, Faldo could feel content too with the fact that he out scored both British Open champion Tom Lehman and US Open champion Steve Jones. Lehman returned a one under par 71 and Jones a three over 75.

Sam Torrance had reached the 18th tee when the rain delay came, but after a long wait came out and holed a 25 foot eagle putt for a 71.

Faldo had changed both his putter and his putting method from the Open at Lytham three weeks ago - he slipped to fourth there after going into the final round lying second - and began by rolling in a 15 footer on the 425 yard first and then chipping to under a yard at the long second.

During the playing of the second the caddies of Lehman and Jones had both been instructed by an official to change from shorts to trousers.

The same order was not given to Faldo's bag carrier Fanny Sunesson, however, and she remained the envy of the others as the conditions hotted up, saying afterwards: "I think it's wrong that the others can't wear Bermuda shorts.

"Medically it can't be good - this is a physical job. I know the players are hot too, but they don't have to carry a bag.

Faldo himself added: "When it's 97 degrees and they are carrying a 30lb bag, I think they have a pretty good point."

Although the male caddies sent a letter to officials claiming discrimination, they have already been told nothing will change this week.

There were two holes in one in the early going by Steve Lowery and George Bowman - both on the 199 yard third hole.