Jason Day’s double and a bogey in his last four holes cost the Australian a share of the lead after the opening round of the 115th US Open
That honour was set earlier in the day by Dustin Johnson and Henrik Stenson with 65s, three to the good of Day,
Played for the first time at the brutal Chambers Bay course in Washington, born out of a quarry only eight years ago, it’s a rare links-type layout in America bordered by water, and a railway line, but featuring bumpy greens.
So it was no surprise when many a top golfer went off the rails, with the Tiger Woods, Rickie Fowler, and Louis Oosthuizen marquee group the biggest casualty.
Woods shot his second successive 80 with a triple, eight bogeys, and a birdie
Fowler (82) with a triple, two doubles, six bogeys, and a birdie
And Oosthuizen (77) with two doubles, five bogeys, and two birdies.
Between them 29 over.
Late in the day both Woods and Oosthuizen had a laugh about it, surly Woods’ first smile all day.
But Johnson and Stenson, two of the best golfers yet to win a major, carded 13 birdies between them with just three bogeys.
On the other side of the coin, the always popular Phil Mickelson, with six seconds in 24 US Open starts, attracted one of the biggest galleries just three days after his 45th birthday.
And he didn’t let them down with a 69 that included four birdies and three birdies, but he left at least three shots on course.
Selected leaders among the marquee field:
65 – Johnson and Stenson.
66 – Patrick Reed.
67 – Matt Kuchar.
68 – Jason Day, Jordan Spieth, Francesco Molinari and Jason Dufner
69 – Phil Mickelson, Brandt Snedeker, Colin Montgomerie, and Miguel Angel Jiminez
70 – Bubba Watson, Angel Cabrera
The 2006 US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy was next best of the Australian contingent with a 69, including three birdies and two bogeys.
Adam Scott, with caddy Steve Williams back on duty, and the exciting 21-year-old qualifier Cameron Smith, shot even par 70s,
Scott carded three birdies and three bogeys – Smith three birdies, a double and a bogey.
Marcus Fraser shot 71 with two birdies and two bogeys.
John Senden (72) had three birdies and five birdies, as did Kurt Barnes with four birdies, a double, and four bogeys.
Marc Leishman”s 73 included five bogeys and two birdies.
The big question is will Tiger Woods play tomorrow?
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