General / Editor / 29 June 2007 /

Rocco Mediate is the leader after the first round of the Buick Open following an impressive bogey-free 64.

The veteran American hit 88.9% of greens in regulation and took 27 putts, with his eight-under-par score giving him a one shot lead.

Three players are on -7 after the opening round, American trio Brett Quigley, Woody Austin and Brian Bateman, while pre-tournament favourite Jim Furyk is among a group of four players on -6.

But Mediate is the man they are all trying to catch and the 44-year-old is in upbeat mood, having fully recovered from recent injury problems.

His right hip joint caused the Pittsburgh-born veteran continued problems with his back, but physiotherapist work appears to have solved the issue.

Mediate admitted to the PGA Tour website: "Since I had back surgery in '94, it's been on and off again. The last three years I was dead.

"My game didn't go away because my ability went away, it's because my body went bye-bye."
Having traded at 160 prior to the tournament, the leader is now on offer at 15.5 to claim his sixth PGA Tour title this week.
World number three Furyk still heads the market at 3.9, while Scott Verplank (-6) is on offer at 9 and Austin is trading at 13.

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