John Daly celebrated the 21st anniversary of his 1991 PGA Championship success with a four under par 68 on day one in hot and humid conditions at Kiawah Island.

Daly has been slowly and steady, and with the enormous benefit of a near full playing schedule, rekindling the form that saw him with a first Major at Crooked Stick.

Daly, now aged 43 but showing no signs of fading, joined defending PGA Champion Keegan Bradley plus 2006 U.S. Open winner, Geoff Ogilvy to finish just two strokes behind Sweden’s Carl Petterrson.

Daly’s round was a steady progression of birdies at the third and seventh holes before he moved to four under par with an eagle three at the par five, 11th before dropping a shot at 12 but then going bogey, birdie, bogey but managing to get back to four under par with a birdie at the par five, 16th.

It should come as no surprise but 21 years after winning at Crooked Stick Daly is in contention on another Pete Dye designed course and this time in DSouth Carolina.

‘Long John’, who had been well up the board in last week’s Reno-Tahoe Open, was asked if the memories of his 1991 PGA success continue to sustain him.

“You just try and thrive on the good things, and what I was doing different back in 1991 at Crooked Stick then,” said Daly.

“Also everything is just perfect outside the ropes in my life, so I can concentrate on golf.

“I think more importantly, my mind is right to give me a chance.

“If I make a double, who cares.  If I play good here, it doesn’t really matter to me.  If I play bad, it doesn’t matter to me.  But I want to play good.

“So I’m just kind of loosey‑goosey out there, and it just feels good, and I think for me, to just free‑wheel it is the only way I can get my confidence back instead of worrying about bad breaks and worrying about this and worrying about what somebody else is doing.

“I only need to worry about what I’m doing and go out and attack and play golf and enjoy it.”