(Charlotte) Seeking his first victory on the North American Tour (PGA), Englishman Tommy Fleetwood took the lead in the Wells Fargo Championship on Thursday after the first round, one shot ahead of five opponents .

Fleetwood finished the day with two birdies in a row to return a 65 card, six under par, and ahead of Korean Lee Kyoung-hoon and Americans Xander Schauffele, Kevin Streelman, Taylor Moore and Ryan Palmer (66).

Fleetwood, a six-time winner on the European Tour but never on the PGA, had four birdies and an eagle to finally take the lead at the Quail Hollow course in Charlotte, North Carolina.

“I had some ups and downs at the start of the course,” said the 32-year-old golfer, but “overall I played my game very well” until achieving “a good finish.” at 17 and 18 (last hole, editor’s note), with unexpected birdies”.

Tokyo Olympic champion Xander Schauffele, a seven-time winner on the PGA Tour, made back-to-back birdies in 14th and 15th to take the provisional lead, but bogeys in 16th and 18th dropped him to second place.

Four-time Major winner and three-time Quail Hollow winner Rory McIlroy turned in a 68 (16th) to celebrate his 34th birthday with the spectators.

“It’s my eleventh birthday in Charlotte, I’m getting used to it,” smiled the Northern Irishman. “I feel as good now as I did when I was 24, so I feel like I still have great years ahead of me.”