Kuchar in pole position, McIlroy struggles

Golf:A red-hot Matt Kuchar birdied his final hole to take a one-shot lead in the opening round of the BMW Championship last night while a baffled Tiger Woods watched his Cog Hill magic disappear.

Playing on the same course he won the US Amateur title in 1997, Kuchar was feeling the Cog Hill vibes on a sunny, late summer morning mixing an eagle and six birdies with a bogey for a seven-under 64 and a one-stroke advantage over Ryan Moore.

"I've got good memories of this place, so it continued to go well for me today," said Kuchar, who cut his interview short because of a bout of laryngitis. "I was driving it well. I was actually doing everything well. It felt very good."

A five-time winner on the suburban Chicago layout, Cog Hill had also been a happy hunting ground for Woods, but the world number one played like he was seeing the course for the first time opening his title defence with a two-over 73.

Channeling the spirit of Bobby Jones wearing a sweater and tie, Moore rocketed into contention firing a Cog Hill record 29 on the back nine. One over through 10, Moore drained seven birdies over his last eight holes, including five straight to finish with a six-under 65.

Ian Poulter began his day with a double-bogey but recovered to shoot a five-under 66 to sit alone in third with South African Retief Goosen and South Korean Charlie Wi one shot further adrift after returning 67s.

Poulter's Ryder Cup team mate Luke Donald was also in contention after opening with a three-under 68 but Rory McIlroy had a day to forget stumbling to a five-over 76.