Friday 14 August 2015 16:35, UK
Justin Rose says he made the "perfect start" to the 97th PGA Championship with a three-under par 69 on Thursday.
Despite two early blemishes at 11 and 13, his second and fourth holes having started on the back nine, Rose responded with five birdies in 11 holes to enter the clubhouse three strokes adrift of early leader Dustin Johnson.
And Rose admitted he drew from his experiences at the 2013 US Open, where he was four over through 13 holes during the opening round before staging a superb recovery which was ultimately rewarded with his first major title.
"I think the first four holes are birdie opportunities, especially this morning," Rose said. "I got a little unlucky on my lie in the bunker on 11. It was just the most awful rake job I have ever seen in my life. I actually couldn't even get out of the bunker. I left it in there and got up and down for a bogey.
"Then I made a weak bogey at the 13th hole, so two over through four and obviously not feeling particularly good, but I just reminded myself that I was four over through 13 when I won at Merion and bounced back from that.
"Whatever happens at the beginning or middle of the week, you've got to suck it up and forget that and realise that you're not the only one making mistakes.
"It's the perfect start, really. I think obviously when you go and shoot seven, eight or nine under in a major in the first round, it's a lot of pressure to absorb for the rest of the week, because you're in contention. It's a platform on which I can build now for the rest of the week. You can never win it on Thursday, you can only lose it."
Fellow Englishman James Morrison is also among the early front-runners after emulating Rose's opening round of 69, and the 30-year-old says he is not prepared to just make up the numbers on his PGA Championship debut.
"I'm very pleased, I played great all day," Morrison said. "I made a couple of silly bogeys, but you're going to make bogeys out there. It's an amazing golf course. It's up there as one of the best rounds I've played for sure.
"You know you're here by merit. Everyone is here because they've earned it. It's probably the best field you'll get all year. And it seems more pleasing to know you qualified to get here through hard work. It's a nice feeling.
"I've got past that first few majors to get the T-shirts and hats and blankets. And I feel like I'm actually here to compete. I'm here to play well and I've done that."
