Steve Elkington rolled in a 50-foot birdie...

Steve Elkington rolled in a 50-foot birdie putt, the most spectacular shot of an erratic round, as he carded a 69 and was part of a four-way tie for the first-round lead in the $1-million USF&G; tournament in New Orleans.

Elkington scored the first tournament victory of his four-year professional career last week at Greensboro, N.C.

Brian Tennyson, Mark O’Meara and Fred Funk were tied with Elkington for the lead. Tennyson and Funk have never won a PGA event; O’Meara has won four in his 11-year career, the most recent the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am last year.

Jack Nicklaus, who designed the course, shot a 78 and withdrew.