World No.9 Rickie Fowler fired a blistering 65 to be all alone at seven under, finishing with a one-shot lead over American Xander Schauffele and England’s Paul Casey (both 66).
Playing just his seventh tournament of the year due to a rib injury, McIlroy bounced back with a birdie from 12 feet on the 13th, but carded a hat-trick of birdies from the first before his encouraging late rally. The previous record for most sub-par rounds in the first round of the tournament was 39, set in 1990 at Medinah Country Club.
Another youngster looking for his first major win, Patrick Reed, is listed at 20/1 after shooting a four-under 68 in Round 1. “But I’d rather be remembered for something that’s done on Sunday”. At the U.S. Open, on the biggest stage, the world saw the complete player.
Mickelson, who celebrates his 47th birthday on Friday, believes he will have more chances at that elusive U.S. Open trophy, and the next few years are favorable.
“Having a win this year at Honda, being in contention at majors in the past, and having The PLAYERS win has definitely done a lot for me”, Fowler said. In fact, Fowler was one of only two golfers in the top 10 in this week’s world rankings to play under par. I think I hit 11 fairways other than the five I did (on Thursday). “Some good stuff was mixed in with an bad lot of poor stuff”.
“Found some pretty awkward looks out there”, Day said. “Obviously, the middle stretch of my round wasn’t the best”.
“I’m a little frustrated that I shot 3 over”, Johnson said. “Still missed some putts that I had opportunities out there, but it’s just nice to go out and actually execute the gameplan”.
“The course was as receptive as it’s going to be but I never really tried to make a birdie, they just seemed to happen along the way”, said Fleetwood, who finished second behind Johnson in the WGC-Mexico Championship earlier this season and lost in a play-off in the Shenzhen International in April.
After starting on the back nine, defending champion Dustin Johnson struggled to a 75, making only one birdie. It didn’t matter at that point because I was so far from the cut line, but at least I know it’s in there, it’s just a matter of getting it out of me and getting myself in the right frame of mind. “I’ll be really glad that I was there and present”. “That was the big key for me”. “There’s no secret that I’m very fiery and a competitor and I’ve let my emotions get the best of me for sure, so I’m understanding that if I can control those I certainly have a better chance of playing well”. “Just have to try to go out tomorrow and rectify those”. “The scoring was so good this morning”.
Jordan Spieth couldn’t get anything going on the greens and finished with a 73. I said all that.
He just didn’t make any birdies.
“I’m feeling good”, the Victorian said later.
Growing up, Hadwin’s greatest strength was his ball-striking and his putting was holding him back. I had 15 looks at birdie today and all of them were actual makeable putts and I only made one of them.
Newly branded as the “ultimate test in golf”, the U.S. Open has always been famed for its toughness and Erin Hills was expected to add to that hard-man reputation.