American Paul Goydos became the fourth player ever to shoot 59 in a US PGA Tour event when he went 12 under par in Thursday's first round of the John Deere Classic in Silvis, Illinois. Goydos made a dozen birdies in a bogey-free tour of the par-71 TPC Deere Run course. The 46-year-old birdied eight of his last nine holes to close out the inward half in 28, completing the 59 by sinking a seven-foot birdie putt at the 18th. The last player to shoot 59 in a US Tour event was David Duval in the final round of the 1999 Bob Hope Classic. Goydos missed just one fairway and two greens in regulation while taking only 22 putts, sinking a 39-footer at the par-four 11th for his longest birdie. Goydos, playing in the morning flight, held a five-stroke lead over fellow-American Michael Letzig and Matt Jones of Australia who both posted rounds of seven-under-par 64. Clarke hits form In Scotland, Darren Clarke stole the limelight from his younger Northern Irish compatriot Graeme McDowell Thursday as he charged into the Scottish Open first round lead. US Open champion McDowell had marked his return to tournament golf with a level-par 71 in the morning but Clarke's unblemished 65 later earned him a one-shot lead over the field. Pre-tournament favorite Phil Mickelson did not make the best of starts in his bid to become world No. 1 after this event. The world No. 2 ran up a double-bogey on the 14th and had to settle for a 71. Italian Edoardo Molinari, putting in a concerted effort to get into Ryder Cup reckoning with his sibling Francesco, is tied for second place with Briton Graeme Storm and Ireland's Damien McGrane. Double major champion John Daly is in a group two shots off the pace with exciting Japanese youngster Ryo Ishikawa. Clarke is looking for his 13th tour title after two years struggling with his game, especially his putting. Hard work and determination have kept him going, he said. He has also had encouragement from his younger compatriots McDowell and US tour winner Rory McIlroy, both of whom he has mentored in the past. McKay, Yokomine share lead In Pennsylvania, Mhairi McKay of Britain and Japan's Sakura Yokomine shared the clubhouse lead as the only players able to match par early in Thursday's first round of the US Women's Open at Oakmont Country Club. McKay and Yokomine shared a one-shot lead after posting 71s on the heavily bunkered classic course whose quick, undulating greens have challenged the world's best players in 12 previous major golf championships. Nine players were bunched at one-over-par 72, including American Paula Creamer, who bogeyed her last two holes to drop from one under par. In the clubhouse another shot away at two-over 73 were a group of 14 including world No. 2 Ai Miyazato of Japan, 2009 Kraft Nabisco champion Brittany Lincicome and 2007 LPGA Championship winner Suzann Pettersen of Norway. Among those struggling on a steamy day outside Pittsburgh were 2009 champion Ji Eun-hee of South Korea (77) and American Michelle Wie, whose 82 was her highest score since posting an 84 at the Evian Masters in 2007.
