By Mark Lamport-Stokes
KOHLER, Wisconsin, Aug 13 (Reuters) - Winning the Memorial in June gave David Lingmerth his first PGA Tour victory and cemented his belief that he could compete at the top level, sparking a run that continues at this week's PGA Championship.
The 28-year-old Swede has posted top-six finishes in his last two starts on the U.S. circuit and on Thursday he fired a superb five-under-par 67 in the opening round at a wind-buffeted Whistling Straits.
Lingmerth ended a challenging day for scoring on the links-style layout just one stroke behind leader Dustin Johnson, having recorded the best score in the more difficult afternoon wave when the winds gusted up to 28 mph (45 kph).