MIAMI: American Spencer Levin fired an opening round three-under 67 to grab the lead in the opening round of the Honda Classic Thursday with world No. 2 Lee Westwood of Britain three shots back at Palm Beach Gardens. The 26-year-old Levin, whose bid for a maiden PGA Tour win fell short in a playoff last week, fired four birdies and one bogey for a one-shot lead over Australians Stuart Appleby and Greg Chalmers, South African Charl Schwartzel, American Kyle Stanley and 2009 Honda champion South Korean Yang Yong-eun. “It was very difficult as you could tell by the scores out there, it's a heck of a golf course,” said Levin, one of just eight players to break par. Westwood, who could reclaim the world No. 1 ranking from Germany's Martin Kaymer with a solo third place finish or better, battled to an even-par 70 in windy conditions at the PGA National Champion course. Playing the back nine first, world No. 2 Westwood got off to a slow start with bogeys at 12 and 17 but recovered with four birdies against two more bogeys on his closing nine to sit three off the pace. Luke Donald got off to a disastrous start with a triple bogey seven at the par-four 11th, his second hole, and posted a three-over 73. Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell joined Donald on 73 after a difficult round that featured three bogeys. South African Ernie Els and Colombian Camilo Villegas had disappointing rounds. Els opened with four straight bogeys from the 10th followed by a double-bogey at 15 to stand six-over through six holes en route to a 75. Villegas continued his poor start to the 2011 campaign as he shot a nine-over 79 that included two double bogeys and five bogeys.
