• John Deere Classic, Round One

Love III shows intent with opening 64

Davis Love III started well on Thursday © Getty Images

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United States Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III sent another reminder that he might just be playing well enough to make the team at Medinah next year, after a great opening round at the John Deere Classic.

Just weeks after a solid tied-11th finish at the US Open, the 47-year-old Love made seven birdies without posting a single bogey on Thursday, on the way to a round of 64 that gave him a share of the early lead.

The former USPGA champion began his round on the 10th, and found four birdies in his opening five holes to build a stable foundation for a solid round at TPC Deere Run.

He was later joined at seven-under by Canadian Matt McQuillan, who had seven birdies after a bogey-eagle-bogey start to give himself a lot of confidence heading into the remaining three days, before eventually being overhauled by Kris Blanks - who had nine birdies in ten holes during a blistering spell around the turn to post a 63.

Mark Wilson and Kyle Stanley both positioned themselves a shot behind after rounds of 65, while the experienced duo of Lee Janzen and Steve Stricker - who is looking to win the event for the third successive time - were among those a shot further back.

Another to card 66 was Paul Goydos - a tally seven shots worse than his display in the first round of the same tournament in 2010, when he became the latest member of the PGA Tour's 59 club.

With most Europeans preparing for next week's Open Championship by playing in this week's Scottish Open at Castle Stuart, Brian Davis had the honour of being the only Englishman in the field on the US Tour this week.

Davis had an unremarkable round on Thursday, however, firing three birdies and two bogeys on the way to a one-under round of 70. Nevertheless, that was one shot better than reigning Open champion Louis Oosthuizen, who fired a level-par round of 71.

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