Reuters
March 28, 2008 - 12:00 a.m. EST

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Australian Steve Elkington was tied for the lead with Americans Vaughn Taylor and Jay Williamson midway through Thursday's New Orleans Classic first round.

Former U.S. PGA champion Elkington was level with Taylor and Williamson on four-under-par 68 at the TPC Louisiana.

One stroke back were Americans Woody Austin, runner-up at last year's U.S. PGA Championship, John Mallinger, Joe Durant and Steve Flesch.

A group on 70 included world number four Steve Stricker, Japan's Shigeki Maruyama and Sweden's Robert Karlsson.

Elkington, a 10-times winner on the PGA Tour, has been in good form of late.

He was tied fifth at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic in January, equaling his best finish on the tour since a runner-up showing at the 2005 U.S. PGA, and shared fourth in the FBR Open two weeks later.

U.S. Masters champion Zach Johnson shot a 72 while twice U.S. Open winner Retief Goosen of South Africa carded a 73.

British Open champion Padraig Harrington of Ireland was among the late starters.

(Writing by Larry Fine in New York; Editing by Tony Jimenez)