Romero happy to be one shot off Jeev in major

Argentina's Andres Romero bogeyed the 18th hole yesterday to slip out of a share of the lead at the PGA Championship, completing a one-under-par 69 at Oakland Hills Country Club.

The 27-year-old was in a group of five players bunched one stroke behind co-leaders Robert Karlsson of Sweden and Jeev Milkha Singh of India after the first round was completed.

Spain's Sergio Garcia and American trio Billy Mayfair, Sean O'Hair and Ken Duke were the other 69s.

Romero was one of 18 players who had to finish rounds interrupted by failing light after Thursday's 85-minute weather delay.

The Argentine got into trouble on the difficult, 498-yard 18th when his four-iron approach fell in the rough short of the right front bunker. He pitched up about 10 feet past the hole and took two putts for bogey.

"I'm very happy," Romero said, despite his final stumble. "It is a very good round to be one shot from the leaders. That is very good for the PGA Championship."

The in-form Jeev had to put a nagging ankle injury aside in order to shoot his 68. "I have been suffering with a little tendon running through my ankle on the right foot and it is very painful," he said. "I have been wearing a brace for the past four weeks.

Jeev, who injured the tendon two months ago, said he had few expectations coming into this week.

"I was just trying to hit shot by shot and hope I can shoot even par," added the 36-year-old. "It worked out pretty good. I'm excited about yesterday's round. I made a lot of up-and-downs and my putting helped me quite a bit."