The only person to finish in the top 10 of the first three major championships this year is well on his way to doing it again.

Robert Karlsson continued his superlative play in this year’s top tournaments by overcoming an ominous start to build an early lead in the opening round of the 90th PGA Championship on Thursday at Oakland Hills.

The lanky, 6-foot-5 Swede double-bogeyed the opening hole, but then birdied three in a row to get under par. Birdies at the par-4 sixth, eighth and 11th holes got him to 4 under for the day and gave him a two-stroke lead. That was cut in half with a bogey at 14.

Jim Furyk led a strong showing by Americans. The winner of the 2002 U.S. Open, Furyk has played his usual steady game and was 2 under through 12 holes after starting his round on No. 10.

Billy Mayfair birdied the 10th hole to get to 2 under.

U.S. players grabbed the next four places behind Karlsson and 11 of the next 16 spots.

Karlsson tied for eighth at the Masters after a final-round 73, then tied for fourth at the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines and tied for seventh at the British Open at Royal Birkdale.

Like many in the 156-player field, Karlsson has a lot riding on this weekend _ even beyond the chance of winning his first major.

Karlsson currently stands fifth on the European Ryder Cup points list, but several strong contenders to make the squad are right behind him: Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, Justin Rose and Graeme McDowell. All are jostling for one of the 10 automatic berths on the European team captained by Nick Faldo.

Ranked No. 22 in the world rankings, Karlsson has never finished higher than a tie for 29th in his previous six PGA Championship starts.

The group at 1 under included Sean O’Hair, Briny Baird, D.J. Trahan and India’s Jeev Milkha Singh.

Phil Mickelson, the favorite entering the tournament, was 1 over through 10 holes. Many of the world’s top players had afternoon tee times.

Two-time defending champion Tiger Woods was forced to skip the event while he recuperates from knee surgery soon after winning the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines in June.

O’Hair is an example of someone who also has a lot riding on the last few tournaments this season. He is trying to play himself onto the U.S. Ryder Cup team. He comes into the season’s last major 13th in the rankings, with only the top eight come Sunday night assured of spots on the team. Captain Paul Azinger will pick four more players next month to round out the team for the competition at Valhalla in September.

No. 8 Steve Stricker is followed by Woody Austin, Hunter Mahan, Trahan and Rocco Mediate, although anyone near the top could cement a spot on the team with a win in the PGA, which is worth double points in the rankings.

Sunny skies and moderate temperatures greeted those first off the tee in the season’s final major championship.

No European has won the PGA Championship since Scotland’s Tommy Armour in 1930.

Several were making an early mark on the leader board, including Sergio Garcia who was at even par through 11 holes.