Aaron Baddeley three off the lead in Ohio

AARON Baddeley is tied for fourth after the opening round of the US PGA Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village, Ohio.

AUSTRALIAN golfer Aaron Baddeley sits nicely poised in a tie for fourth after the opening round of the US PGA Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village in Ohio.

Baddeley fired a three-under par 69 to hold the clubhouse lead for most of the day before American Scott Stallings busted out from the pack late to post a round of 66.

Stallings leads by one over countrymen Spencer Levin (67) and double heart transplant recipient Erik Compton (67).

The Australian is tied with Americans Blake Adams, Brandt Snedeker, Matt Every and Daniel Summerhays plus Argentina's Andres Romero and South African Rory Sabbatini.

"Today was a good start,'' Baddeley said. "I hit a bunch of good shots and made some great saves. It is a step in the right direction.''

Baddeley started on the back nine and immediately made a move when his 10-foot putt found the hole for birdie.

Two holes later he tracked a 49-foot monster into the cup to be off and running before a bad break on the 14th stalled his momentum.

With his tee shot sailing right, Baddeley was resigned to a tough approach but he caught the cart path and bounced wildly out of bounds, forcing a re-tee.

In the end the Victorian carded a double bogey six, but it was his only blemish of the round.

A laser seven iron on the par three 16th produced another birdie before a 10-foot birdie putt on the fourth and a 12-footer on the sixth ensured a fast start for the 31-year-old.

Tiger Woods sits just a shot further back after a round of 70 having bounced back from a double bogey of his own.

The 14-time major champion and four-time Memorial champion dropped two shots on the 18th hole, his ninth, before gaining them back across the front nine to be lurking just off the pace.

Adam Scott (70) was the next best of the Australians joining Woods in a tie for 11th.

Just like Woods, Scott double bogeyed the 18th near the middle of his round but fought back late to stay well in contention.

Greg Chalmers and Geoff Ogilvy each fired 71 to be just five off the lead while Rod Pampling and Marc Leishman are at even par 72.

Robert Allenby (73), Jason Day (74), Nick O'Hern (74), John Senden (77), Stuart Appleby (77) and Bryden Macpherson (79) all failed to break par and will need improvement to make the weekend.

Phil Mickelson withdrew after a poor 79 sighting fatigue.