Veteran Allenby in PGA hunt

AUSTRALIAN veteran Robert Allenby is just one shot off the lead after play was suspended due to darkness at the PGA Tour event in Alabama.

He fired six birdies in a fiveunder opening round 66 to be in a tie for fourth.

With golf’s big names competing in the Open Championship at Birkdale, American trio Martin Flores, Cameron Tringale and Zac Blair head the depleted field after rounds of sixunder 65. Flores and Tringale played in the morning and Blair finished his afternoon round in humid conditions after a rain delay of nearly two hours at Grand National’s Lake course.

Allenby is in a group along with Americans Chad Campbell and Tag Ridings, and South African Rory Sabbatini, who all carded rounds of 66, and Richy Werenski (16 holes).

Cameron Percy is the nextbest Australian after a threeunder 68.