Donald wore black in memory of Darren Clarke's wife Heather

The Englishman, who lives in nearby Chicago, was his usual tidy self but will be disappointed to bogey the last.

But the 28-year-old was not the only Brit to enjoy the Medinah lay-out, Lee Westwood signed for a 69 and Kenneth Ferrie and Ian Poulter carded 70s.

Ferrie was more than content as he almost missed the event with a back injury and his clubs got lost en route.

Interview: Luke Donald

"I would love to have had good preparations, but it was a nice way to start," said the 27-year-old, who finished one shot ahead of another talented Englishman, European Order of Merit leader David Howell.

"With what has happened to Heather Clarke (Darren's wife who died last weekend) and a few other things in my life there are more important things than losing a set of clubs.

You can believe you've got a good chance but expecting it is different Luke Donald

"We get carried away sometimes and are a bit spoilt - it's a game."

Donald, on the other hand, enjoyed a relaxed build-up to the year's final major, hardly surprising as his Chicago home is only 40 minutes' drive from Medinah.

"I've played here a number of times and I feel comfortable around this golf course," said Donald, who spent four years at Chicago's Northwestern University.

"It's similar to golf courses I play in Chicago. It's nice to play when it's so close to home."

Frequently referred to as the man most likely to break Britain's seven-year barren run in the majors, Donald said he tried to play down public expectations.

Westwood has been encouraged to play this week by Darren Clarke

"I try not to listen, I just try to play my own game," he said. "You just can't get ahead of yourself and can't raise your expectations too high.

"You can believe you've got a good chance but expecting it is different."

His best finish in a major to date was the third place he recorded on his Augusta debut in 2005. A tie for 12th at the US Open is the best he has managed this year.

"The last three majors I have struggled with the first round," said the 11th-ranked Donald, who rallied after opening with a 78 at Winged Foot in June.

"It's nice to be in the 60s. Even though I hit a lot of bad drives today, I didn't let it get to me. I just kept plodding along."

The highlight of his round on Thursday, which included six birdies and two bogeys, was a holed bunker shot on the short 17th, his eighth.

"I was a little between clubs and pulled it into the sand," he said.

I have a job to do, but when things go bad you do tell yourself a lot worse happens and has happened Lee Westwood

"It was a reasonably simple shot, but if I thinned it the water was behind. I got the perfect line and speed, though."

Donald's Ryder Cup team-mate Westwood was also delighted with his opening effort.

The 33-year-old Englishman, who needs a good week to book his Ryder Cup place this year, was in contention the last time the USPGA was played at Medinah in 1999.

But he wilted in the intense heat and needed to be put on a drip after a third round he played alongside eventual winner Tiger Woods.

Conditions are nowhere near as fierce this week and even a bogey at the last failed to spoil his mood. But then he has just returned from a holiday in the Bahamas.

"I had 10 days lying on the beach. After six weeks in a row it was a rest I felt I needed," he said.