Golf story by sport.co.uk, Fri, 26 Jun 2009 01:50:33 GMT



Kenny Perry equalled the course record at TPC River Highlands after carding a 61 to claim the lead after the first round of the Travelers Championship in Connecticut.The American became the fifth man to achieve the feat but was left disappointed after failing to finish on 59 - a result which only three men have pulled off in PGA history.

"It's good I guess, but it's only Thursday," Perry told Sky Sports. "That's not my ultimate goal.


"It was an easy round, very relaxed. I hit it where I needed to hit it on every hole, didn't hit it in the rough anywhere, my iron game was really sharp.


"I felt like my game was coming, I knew I didn't play very well last week (at the US Open) in the rain and poor conditions and I felt like my game was changing. I hit some real quality iron shots.


"It was just a great start, a nice, fun almost magical round. I was hoping to get that number."


Perry finished the first day on nine under, two shots ahead of fellow Americans Paul Goydos and Charles Warren, while US Open champion Lucas Glover sits on five-under.