Former European No 1 Ronan Rafferty has his work cut out to make the cut in the US Senior PGA Championship after opening with a four over 75  at Harbor Shores in Michigan.

The 50-year old from Warrenpoint, who is making his debut in a Senior major, had five bogeys and just one birdie on his card to end the day tied for 94th. Scores

He's 10 strokes behind Joe Durant, who shot a six under 65 for a one-stroke lead over Dan Forsman — fighting an arthritic left hip — with Brad Faxon two behind after a 67.

Mark Brooks and P.H. Horgan III shot 68, and two-time Senior PGA Championship winner Jay Haas and Scot Colin Montgomerie were in the group at 69. 

Kenny Perry, the winner last week in the Regions Tradition in Alabama, topped the group at 70 with Bernhard Langer, Tom Lehman, John Cook and Tom Watson. 

"I just had a nice rhythm," said Durant who has played on the PGA Tour, Web.com Tour and the Champions Tour this season and plans to play the PGA Tour and Champions the rest of the year.

"I didn't try to do anything fancy. I just went from point A to point B and hit a lot of good shots. It worked out to be a nice round."

Roger Chapman, the 2012 winner at Harbor Shores, opened with a 71.