Change of approach helps Rose sign for 65

ENGLAND'S Justin Rose set an early target of seven-under-par in the first round of the weather-delayed Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village in Ohio.

Rose, searching for his first PGA Tour title after coming up short in 161 starts, held a two-shot lead over a group of players including Phil Mickelson and South Africa's Rory Sabbatini.

Rose hit eight birdies and one bogey in his round of 65, an improvement on last week at Colonial, when he scraped through the cut but still finished in a lowly position of joint-71st.

Rose said: "I often tend to be into results too much. For the first time in a while, I feel like I'm not just trying to get results week to week. I feel I'm trying to get better as I go forward."

Rose is a long way down the European Ryder Cup standings, but firmly believes he can play his way on to the team and is prepared to alter his schedule later in the season.

"I reckon I'm two wins away (from making the team automatically), so I've just got to play my heart out without thinking about results," he said.

"I believe my game's good enough and if I match it all up I will be at the Ryder Cup. I've got a great Ryder Cup record, I enjoy match play, even from my amateur career I've got a great matchplay record."

Mickelson shot a bogey-free round of 65. Behind Rose, the next-placed Briton among those who finished before the elements took their toll was Brian Davis, who hit a one-under-par 71.

Tiger Woods did not make the best of starts in his delayed bid to find his way back to top form. Woods missed the first green and took a bogey. He remained one-over-par through four holes.