The top players at the U.S. Open not only have to battle a challenging course but also an atypical schedule in the first two days at Oakmont Country Club.
Advertisement
Dustin Johnson needed only one round to get right back in the mix.
Others to complete their first round include Lee Westwood, who is one stroke off the lead after a 67.
Sergio Garcia says he was pleased to bounce back from a mid-round wobble at Oakmont to card an opening round 68 at the US Open.
“History is history”, Landry said.
“I am just not in a good place with my swing”. Not since Bob Tway in 1986 at Shinnecock Hills has a U.S. Open rookie had the outright lead after 18 holes.
Landry is a 28-year-old qualifier making his U.S. Open debut.
Johnson, who tied for second in last year’s U.S. Open at Chambers Bay one stroke behind Spieth after three-putting the final hole, moved into contention for his first major title by carding three birdies in a bogey-free display.
“It’s still playing tough”.
“It’s not as brutal as it was so it gives you a bit more playability”, observed Garcia of the course, which softened due to the storms that hit the western Pennsylvania area in recent days, adding: “I didn’t play great early on”. Lush and wet, Oakmont yielded 11 rounds in the 60s.
Phil Mickelson’s opening round at the U.S. Open was a curious one.
Westwood had four holes to play yesterday and completed them in two under thanks to birdies on the eighth and ninth, the 43-year-old signing for a three-under-par 67, his lowest opening round in 17 US Open appearances. “You hit the fairway, you’re going to have a good opportunity to make a good iron shot and potentially set yourself up for a great opportunity for birdie”. “I’m just a consistent guy that’s going to shoot 68 and make a lot of pars”.
“You’ve got to be KIDDING me!”
World number one Jason Day tees off at 09:00am local time. It was a shocking start for Day, who was in danger of missing the cut with little time to regain his composure.
Spieth will not start his second round at the weather-delayed event until Saturday when he could end up playing 36 holes in one day, a prospect that left him unperturbed.
Five birdies and three bogeys made for a good start especially after starting with back-to-back dropped shots on Thursday before rain halted play.
Oakmont has, for the most part, done what it was expected to do – tear golf cards to shreds – only not to whom it was expected. And while 16 players shot par or better, the casualties to par were plenty – and prominent.
“The way my dad was clapping I thought it was on the green”, Lowry said of the driveable 17th.
McIlroy has never won a tournament in the United States after an over par opening round, but could take some encouragement from American Andrew Landry, the world number 624, shooting 66 to record the lowest first round in nine US Opens at Oakmont. “I know I’m capable of it. I’m in it”.
The road back is much longer for Masters champion Danny Willett, McIlroy and Fowler. They played in the same group and were a combined 18-over par. But pre-championship favourite Day – who had bunker troubles on the seventh in running up a double-bogey six – shot a 76, and McIlroy, his shoulders slacking as his round unravelled, had a 77.
Rory McIlroy’s quest for a second U.S. Open title is off to a bumpy start.
Advertisement
Andrew Landry hits from the fairway on the third hole during the first round of the U.S. Open.
