Whistling Straits Diary:DARREN Clarke was on the lookout for the culprit who left a heel print in a bunker by the 17th green, which led to the Ulsterman running up a bogey five in completing his first round yesterday.

“I was in a deep heel mark, it was one of those that was supposed to be raked and someone had just walked through it. I was lucky to move the ball five yards.”

No respite for struggling Monty

“HE played like a man with other things on his mind,” remarked Matt Kuchar, the first round leader in his observations of Europe’s Ryder Cup captain. Colin Montgomerie.

Montgomerie – who has taken out a court injunction in Britain to stop a former girlfriend from disclosing details of his private life – shot an opening round 79 that he conceded was “about what I have played this year, so (just) continuing my vein of form.”

Asked how his preparations had gone and what expectations he had, Monty replied: “There weren’t, I couldn’t.”

By the numbers

4– Par 4 489 yards 4th hole played as the hardest hole in the first round (4.55 stroke average)

5– Par 5 598 yards 5th hole played as the easiest hole in the first round (4.59 stroke average)

5– Eagles made in the first round (Soren Hansen, Martin Kaymer, Matt Kuchar, Hunter Mahan and Nick Watney)

43– Number of players under par after the first round of the 2010 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits

73.34– Scoring average in the first round of the 2004 PGA Championship

73.56– Scoring average in the first round of the 2010 PGA Championship