There, Neels Els watched his son Ernie, a two-time U.S. Open champion, wrap up a session on a nearby practice green in anticipation of his 24th Open start. It’s a U.S. Open.
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Unheralded American Andrew Landry faced a birdie putt on the ninth, his final hole, when play resumed to card a 66 which would be the lowest first-round score shot in nine US Opens at Oakmont.
“I am missing shots left, I am missing shots right”.
The first round of the U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club in western Pennsylvania was supposed to be about deep rough, fast greens and high scores.
“That was fine. That’s what the USGA had to do to get as much golf as they could in”.
Landry was three-under for the day, facing a 10-foot birdie putt at his final hole, the par-four ninth, when play was called.
“Are you kidding me!” the world number two fumed.
If the weather holds up, numerous golfers who did not get a chance to start their first round may have to play 36 holes Friday.
Westwood finished with two birdies for a 67, his lowest start in a U.S. Open and only the third time in 17 appearances he has opened with a round under par. Spieth didn’t take advantage of the soft conditions the same way Andrew Landry (-4) or Lee Westwood (-3) did, but he avoided a disastrous start like Rory McIlroy (+7) and Rickie Fowler (+6), who may have effectively ended their chances at a win before half the field teed off. I’m going to make a lot of pars and hang in there.
“My win in Akron was something that I can always look back on and the way I played the last few holes there was great”. Els, who won his first major championship in the 1994 Open at Oakmont, also won the tournament in 1997. He’ll have to digest shooting a 4-over 74 before heading out to play again on Oakmont Country Club.
Mickelson, who needs the U.S. Open title to complete the career Grand Slam, was 1 under when he made the turn. So I’m not really sure how my score stands right now.
Spieth, who finished off a round of only one birdie for a 72, returned to Oakmont in the afternoon to putt. I think I hit five fairways and eight greens which is not going to do anything. And he finished his round with a 50-foot par putt for a 70. “We know how hard the U.S. Open is, and here at Oakmont even tougher”.
Masters champion Danny Willett said: “We sat in a cabin for an hour and 10 minutes behind the seventh tee without being given a chance to hit any balls or do anything. There have been a few early mornings in a row so I will rest up, come back out here this evening and hit a few balls and try to figure out what the problem is with my swing”, he said.
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Because the rain flooded parking lots, spectators were not allowed into the course until 8 a.m.
