LEADERBOARD US unless stated -8 M Gogel -5 F Jacobson (Swe), L Westwood (Eng), B Wetterich, K Stadler (after 14 holes) -4 B Crane, C Perks (NZ), M Allen, K Sutherland, J Furyk, P Goydos, V Taylor (17) Play was suspended due to bad weather

The 34-year-old, whose only PGA tour triumph came in 2002 at Pebble Beach, missed the cut in nine of 13 prior starts this year.

England's Lee Westwood, Sweden's Fredrik Jacobson and American Brett Wetterich shared second on 66.

A thunderstorm halted play with 42 golfers still on the course.

South Africa's Ernie Els was two under par with one hole to complete.

Fiji's Vijay Singh and US star Phil Mickelson fired par 71s.

Reigning US Open champion Retief Goosen of South Africa began with a 70.

"I haven't had a great year really," said Gogel, whose lone PGA Tour win came in 2002 at Pebble Beach.

"To be quite honest, my priority is playing well the next four or five events, which are some of my favorite events.

"I wanted to play in The Open, don't get me wrong.

"But for me right now it's important that I do well in the PGA Tour.

"If I would have qualified for the Open, I would have had to take one of those events off that I really enjoy playing, and that would have been tough to do."