DIGEST/US Seniors Open: Two of the toughest holes on the Bellerive Golf course cost Ireland's Des Smyth four shots as the Co Louth man opened with a three-over-par 73 in the first round of the US Seniors Open in St Louis, Missouri.

After a steady start, Smyth, had his first double-bogey at the fifth in an outward half of 38 and dropped another two shots at the 10th. However, a birdie three at the 14th helped repair some of the damage in a second nine of 36.

Craig Stadler set the early pace when he covered the back nine in four-under-par 31 for a first round total of five-under-par 66. Stadler leads by two from Bob Gilder and Davis Eger.

Mark McNulty was at one under par after 10 holes.

SENIORS TOUR: England's Denis Durnian made a dream start in the Bad Ragaz PGA Seniors Open yesterday in Switzerland when he shot the lowest round of his career, an eight-under-par 62.

The bogey-free round, capped superbly by birdies on the last four holes, matched the course record at Bad Ragaz Golf Club and earned him a three-stroke lead over Englishman Bob Cameron.

Defending champion Horacio Carbonetti from Argentina, Scotland's John Chillas, South African John Mashego and England's Nick Job shot 66s, in the European Seniors Tour event.

John Curtis leads the Irish challenge with a 69 with Denis O'Sullivan and Eddie Polland two back on 71, while Liam Higgins had a disappointing day shooting 77.

US PGA TOUR: Vijay Singh shot eight birdies and an eagle in in an opening round of nine-under-par 63 to take a one-shot lead in the Buick Open at Warwick Hills GC, Michigan.

After an opening nine of 34 the Fijian blitzed the back nine in 29 shots that included five birdies and an eagle at the 15th.

Singh leads by one from Olin Browne who had halves of 32 while Tiger Woods is in a group on 67 that includes Mark O'Meara, Briny Baird and Roger Tambellini.

JohnDaly opened with a 70.