That’s the end of our first-round coverage, then. Here’s a link to Ewan Murray’s report, plus the top of the leaderboard after 18 holes. See you again tomorrow. Nighty night!
-4: Hadwin
-3: Tarren, Lingmerth, McIlroy, Dahmen, Daffue
-2: Buckley, NeSmith, Harman, Wise, Fitzpatrick, Johnson, Rose
-1: Rodgers, Morikawa, Piot, Rahm, Scott, Homa, Zalatoris, Hossler, Hardy, Thomas, Woodland, Kokrak
Adam Hadwin can’t quite make his birdie putt. It breaks the width of a dimple to the left, but he taps in for par, and that’s a best-of-day 66. He’ll take a one-shot lead into the second day, after a front-nine birdie blitz was followed by a street-fighting run of pars along the closing stretch. Brilliant from the 34-year-old Canadian.
The leader Adam Hadwin cracks a 3-wood down the last, and gets a slightly unlucky forward bounce off a drain cover in the centre of the fairway. The extra distance kicks his ball into the semi-rough down the right. But he’s just avoided the really thick stuff, which is only karmically right and proper, and he’s able to whip a wedge into the centre of the green, from where he’ll have an uphill look at birdie from 20 feet or so.
A disappointing end to the round for the 2019 and 2020 champions. Gary Woodland has a look at birdie from 30 feet on 9. It rolls a couple of feet past, then he yips the short one coming back, a little pull that results in a 360-degree lip-out. A 69. Bryson DeChambeau misses a short one for par as well, and he signs for 71. The third member of the match, the 2013 winner Justin Rose, pars for a 68.
Phil Mickelson finishes a sometimes farcical round in predictable fashion. He sends his drive into tall fescue, then whistles his second into cabbage behind the green. A trademark high lob gives him half a chance of salvaging par, but he can’t make the 20-footer he’s left with, and signs for a 78. Happy birthday, Phil. He’s +8. Just one shot better is his partner, and last year’s runner-up, Louis Oosthuizen. The third member of the group, Shane Lowry, cards 72 after a disappointing back nine of 38 strokes. He’s +2.
Justin Rose can’t make his putt on 8, and that’s a pretty dreadful bogey from position A1 in the fairway, on the easiest hole today. A couple of shots effectively handed to the field on a silver platter, right there.
-4: Hadwin (16)
-3: Tarren (F), Lingmerth (F), McIlroy (F), Dahmen (F), Daffue (F)
-2: Buckley (F), NeSmith (F), Harman (F), Wise (F), Fitzpatrick (F), Johnson (F), Woodland (17*), Rose (17*)
Matt Fitzpatrick can’t get up and down from the bunker at 18, and so it’s a bogey to close. He nevertheless finishes with a very acceptable opening round of 68. Shoot anything under 70 at a US Open, and it’s all to play for. His playing partner Dustin Johnson however scrambles from rough at the back of the green, and he’ll be happier with his par finish, and also signs for 68. Webb Simpson completes the match with par and a 70.
Adam Hadwin’s long iron at the par-three 16th flies over the back of the green, and into more thick filth. But once again his short game is rock solid, chipping to four feet and tidying up for par. He could quite easily have dropped shots at each of the last three holes, but has resolutely refused to buckle. He remains one clear at -4.
A mix of bad luck and poor play for Justin Rose at the par-five 8th. He’s a few inches away of leaving his second shot on the green, but his ball topples back off the false front and 40 yards down the fairway. He then flubs his chip up and the ball comes back to his feet. His second attempt stays up there, but it’s still well short of the flag. From almost setting himself up for a long eagle putt, he’s now got a 20-footer to save his par. Meanwhile trouble for Matt Fitzpatrick down 18. He flays a wild drive towards the grandstands down the right, then having got some relief, dumps his second into a bunker guarding the front. Not far off finding the green, but here we are, and it’s been a bad couple of minutes for the English charge.
A comfortable two-putt par from distance for Adam Hadwin at 15. Meanwhile you can’t keep a good man down, and Scottie Scheffler, out of sorts for so much of the day, finishes with birdie at 8, then a 20-foot downhill tickler for another at 9! Having missed the cut at the PGA, the young Masters champion could have been forgiven for thinking the worst could happen again; now he’ll be thinking about launching a title bid. He signs for a level-par 70.
Matt Fitzpatrick sends his second at 17 into the heart of the green, then pours his 30-foot right-to-left slider into the middle of the cup. Birdie, and he’s back to one off the lead. Birdie there for the 2016 champion Dustin Johnson, too, and he moves to -2. Meanwhile a closing birdie for Viktor Hovland means the young Norwegian is signing for a level-par 70.
-4: Hadwin (14)
-3: Tarren (F), Lingmerth (F), McIlroy (F), Dahmen (F), Daffue (F), Fitzpatrick (17), Rose (16*)
-2: Buckley (F), NeSmith (F), Harman (F), Wise (F), Johnson (17), Woodland (16*)
Gary Woodland rakes a monster right-to-left swinger across 7 for his second birdie in three holes. The 2019 champion moves to -2. Meanwhile up on 18, Justin Thomas, having only just carried the bunker at the front with his approach, nearly takes advantage by rolling in a 30-footer for birdie, but the ball shaves the lip. He taps in for a 69 that he’ll be happy enough with in the testier afternoon conditions. He’s -1.
Hadwin scrambles his par at 14 with a measured punch out of the thick rough at the back of the green. He sends his ball rolling gracefully to 12 inches, and he remains one clear at -4.
A pressure putt on 16 for Matt Fitzpatrick, who splashes out from the bunker at the front to eight feet. He pours it in, and back-to-back bogeys are avoided. he remains two off Hadwin’s lead at -2.
A fine par for Justin Rose at the par-three 6th. His tee shot finds the green, but a long way from the flag, and a shoulder juts across his line. He’s forced to chip, shades of Gary Woodland on 17 to secure his US Open at Pebble Beach in 2019. He wedges to four feet, and tidies up to remain at -3.
Some trouble for Adam Hadwin at the par-five 14th. His drive nestles down in some fescue to the left of the fairway. He’s forced to lay up, then sends his third from 180 yards over the back of the green, and into more ugly rough. He’ll need delicate hands to get up and down for his par from there.
Bogey for Matt Fitzpatrick at the par-four 15th. He slips to -2, then dumps his tee shot at the par-three 16th into the bunker at the front. How quickly things threaten to unravel at a US Open. Meanwhile birdie for Bryson DeChambeau at 6, and the 2020 champion returns to level par.
Another birdie for the 2013 champion Justin Rose! This one’s rolled in at the short par-four 5th, and Hartley Wintney’s finest move to within a shot of Hadwin’s lead at -3.
Adam Hadwin regains sole leadership of the US Open in spectacular style! He comes up short at the par-four 13th, but opts to putt rather than chip. Wise decision. He rolls in a 50-foot right-to-left curler that always looks like dropping, pretty much from the moment it left the face of the putter. One of those. He’s -4 again.
Par for MJ Daffue on 9, and the 33-year-old South African debutant signs for a 67. He’s -3. Meanwhile on the par-three 15th, Justin Thomas pulls his tee shot into a greenside bunker, but splashes out delicately to three feet and tidies up for his par. He remains at -1.
Ewan Murray’s first Brookline verdict is in ... and here it is. Off you click, but please don’t forget to come back!
Hadwin sent his second closer to the green at 12 than I initially realised. But he’s left his ball in more rough, and he’s not got a lot of green to play with. He hacks out to 15 feet, but can’t make the putt, and he slips back into a share at -3.
-3: Tarren (F), Lingmerth (F), McIlroy (F), Dahmen (F), Daffue (17*), Fitzpatrick (13), Hadwin (12)
-2: Buckley (F), NeSmith (F), Harman (F), Wise (F), Rose (13*)
MJ Daffue is enjoying his US Open debut. Another birdie, this time at 8. Very nearly an eagle, in fact, but his ball required one more turn. He’s -3, and could soon have a share of the lead, because Adam Hadwin has sent his drive into deep rough down the right of 12, and has been forced to gouge out. Bogey is now more likely than not, unless he can send his approach close, or pull a big putt out of the bag.
There’s not much going right for the Masters champion Scottie Scheffler right now. Back-to-back bogeys at 3 and 4, and he’s +2. Scheffler missed the cut at last month’s PGA Championship; he wouldn’t be human if he didn’t start thinking about missing another major weekend, even if the cut doesn’t come down for another 24 hours.
Justin Thomas hands the shot he picked up at 13 straight back. His drive at the par-five 14th sails towards the gallery on the right. He gets the break of some trampled-down grass, but clips a branch with his second and comes up short with a third from a fairway bunker. Three putts from distance lead to a clumsy bogey six, albeit on a hole that’s playing second hardest today. He’s -1.
Phil Mickelson clips a wedge into the heart of 12, then spins it back to kick-in distance. Sheer genius. The only problem is, he’d hacked his way up the hole via trees and thick rough. A double-bogey six, and he’s +7. There are currently only eight players worse off than Lefty in the 156-strong field.
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A short putt through a shadow at 12 for Webb Simpson. It puts the 2012 champion off, and he slips back to -1. Meanwhile on 10, Adam Hadwin goes over the back, but does extremely well to get up and down for a scrambled par. He remains one in the lead at -4.
Matt Fitzpatrick’s cross-handed chipping grip looks very strange indeed ... but works like a dream! He misses the green at 12, sending his ball into the cabbage at the back, but then bumps a gentle wedge back on, rolling it 60 feet down the green, left to right and back again, whereupon it drops! The crowd go doolally while Fitzpatrick, who returns to -3, punches the air in delight.
-4: Hadwin (9)
-3: Tarren (F), Lingmerth (F), McIlroy (F), Dahmen (F), Fitzpatrick (12)
-2: Buckley (F), NeSmith (F), Harman (F), Wise (F), Daffue (15*), Thomas (13), Simpson (11), Rose (11*)
A first birdie of the day for birthday boy Phil Mickelson at 11! He’s back up to +5 and gives the crowd a sheepish thumbs up. Birdie meanwhile for Justin Thomas at 13, after knocking his second to five feet. But it’s a painful triple-bogey seven for Sean Jacklin at 7, and he clatters down the standings to +2. Jacklin was named after his dad Tony’s friend Sean Connery; he’s presumably shaken rather than stirred at the moment.
Adam Hadwin makes it five birdies in six holes – one shy of his shared US Open record of six consecutive birdies, made at Erin Hills in 2017 – and the 34-year-old Canadian takes sole ownership of the lead! He’s out in 31 strokes ... but here comes the tricky stretch between 10 and 14.
-4: Hadwin (9)
-3: Tarren (F), Lingmerth (F), McIlroy (F), Dahmen (F)
-2: Buckley (F), NeSmith (F), Harman (F), Wise (F), Daffue (15*), Fitzpatrick (11), Simpson (11), Rose (10*)
The extremely unhappy birthday of Phil Mickelson, 52, continues apace. He can’t get up and down from sand at 10 and slips to +6. Up on 11, Matt Fitzpatrick sends a poor wedge into the thick rough at the short par-three, a miserable mistake that costs him a shot and a share of the lead.
Adam Hadwin likes a US Open birdie tear-up all right. He’s now made four in the last five holes, the latest at 8, and 2017’s six-in-a-row record-equalling hero joins the leading pack at -3.
-3: Tarren (F), Lingmerth (F), McIlroy (F), Dahmen (F), Fitzpatrick (10), Hadwin (8)
-2: Buckley (F), NeSmith (F), Harman (F), Wise (F), Daffue (13*), Simpson (10), Rose (9*)
Justin Rose joins the group at -2. His latest birdie is reward for a fantastic second into 18, sent 30 feet over the flag and screwed back to three. Birdie for the PGA nearly man Mito Pereira at 11; he’s -1. Bogey for Seamus Power at 10; the Irish debutant drops back to -1. And it’s back-to-back birdies at 5 and 6 for Sean Jacklin, son of the 1970 runaway winner Tony. He’s -1. Dad was English, of course, but Sean was born in, and represents, Scotland. Should he pull off a big surprise this week, he’d become the first Scot to win the US Open since Willie Macfarlane in 1925. Monty should have won it, of course, in 2006 ... but what kind of shot was that? Oh Monty.
Andrew Novak was in a share of the lead not much more than an hour ago. But that triple-bogey seven at 10 has knocked the stuffing out of the 27-year-old debutant. Further bogeys at 13 and 14 have sent him tumbling to +2. MJ Daffue made it to -3 as well, before also toppling back down the standings, but the 33-year-old South African - also on debut - has recovered well from a four-hole run of three bogeys and a birdie, and now another birdie at 3 has brought him back to -2.
Tony Finau, having been forced to chip out sideways from bother down the left of 10, looks to have salvaged his par by spinning his third to four feet. But he misses the short saver, and drops to +1. His partner Justin Thomas, having been luckier upon hitting the rocks, saves his par and remains at -1.
Matt Fitzpatrick came so close at the PGA last month, and the experience seems to have given him the taste for more major action. He rifles his second at 9 straight at the flag. The ball rolls six feet past, and he knocks in the birdie putt coming back. He joins the leaders!
-3: Tarren (F), Lingmerth (F), McIlroy (F), Dahmen (F), Fitzpatrick (9)
-2: Buckley (F), NeSmith (F), Harman (F), Wise (F), Power (9), Simpson (9), Graser -a- (9*), Hadwin (7)
Adam Hadwin becomes the latest of the afternoon starters to join the group at -2. Having bogeyed 3, he’s birdied 4, 5 and now 7. Not quite up there with the six consecutive birdies he made at Erin Hills in 2017, but not half bad either. Meanwhile on 17, Justin Rose rakes in a 50-footer that bears a similarity to Justin Leonard’s famous/infamous putt on Ryder Cup Sunday in 1999. Rose almost splits his sides laughing, and performs a satirical dancing-across-Olazabal’s-line jig to celebrate. A lovely scene, and one the crowd very much enjoys too. The 2013 champ is -1.
The 2012 champion Webb Simpson chips in from the fringe at the back of the par-five 8th! An eagle that breaks a sequence of pars and catapults him up into the crowd one shot off the lead at -2. The 36-year-old from North Carolina has, aside from his win ten years ago, a decent recent record at the US Open, with two top-ten finishes in the last four years. Another high finish? Another win? Anyway, he’s going round with Matt Fitzpatrick, who adds birdie to the one he picked up at 5. He’s on the shoulder of the leading pack too.
-3: Tarren (F), Lingmerth (F), McIlroy (F), Dahmen (F)
-2: Buckley (F), NeSmith (F), Harman (F), Wise (F), Power (8), Simpson (8), Fitzpatrick (8), Graser -a- (7*)
Par for Justin Thomas on 9, and the PGA champion turns in 34. He’s -1. He then gets a huge break on 10, his tee shot whistling into the rockery down the right of the fairway but taking a huge ricochet straight left and back onto the semi rough. His partner Tony Finau, at level par, isn’t so fortunate, sending a big hook into the rocks down the left. That one isn’t coming out, and he could be in all sorts of blocked-out bother over there.
Some players peak later than others, and 35-year-old Séamus Power is taking to the majors like a duck to water. Having tied for 27th on his major-championship debut at this year’s Masters, he finished in the top ten at last month’s PGA, and now he’s bothering the leaders at the toughest one of them all, the US Open. He’s only a couple of revolutions away from eagle at 8; instead, he taps in for his third birdie in four holes, and joins Austin Greaser as the hottest property out there on the, er, property right now.
-3: Tarren (F), Lingmerth (F), McIlroy (F), Dahmen (F)
-2: Buckley (F), NeSmith (F), Harman (F), Wise (F), Power (8), Greaser -a- (7*)
This is turning into a nightmare for Phil Mickelson. Having bogeyed 1, 3 and 5, he tries to turn things around on the par-three 6th, knocking his tee shot to ten feet. He races the birdie putt four feet past, then pulls a frankly abysmal par effort wide right. That missed by a country mile! The one coming back horseshoes out, and it’s a double bogey that clatters him down the standings to +5. There’ll be no career slam for Lefty this week. There’ll be no career slam for him at all, if we’re being honest with ourselves. He wears the look of a man with the weight of the world on his shoulders. Has he brought it on himself? Well, maybe, but it’d take a heart of stone to derive any pleasure from seeing one of the game’s true entertainers suffer an existential crisis like this.
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The PGA champion Justin Thomas makes his first move into red figures. Birdie at the par-five 8th, having previously cancelled out his bogey at 4 with birdie at 6, and he joins that big group at -1.
There’s not a lot of upward momentum right now. A bit of wind and slightly firmer greens have seen to that. The only player in the afternoon wave better than one under par is the amateur Austin Greaser. The 21-year old from Ohio is making his US Open debut, having finished runner-up to James Piot in the US Amateur last year. Early birdies at 11 and 12 have done the trick, and he’s two under for his round through his first five holes.
-3: Tarren (F), Lingmerth (F), McIlroy (F), Dahmen (F)
-2: Buckley (F), NeSmith (F), Harman (F), Wise (F), Greaser -a- (5*)
-1: Rodgers (F), Morikawa (F), Piot (F), Rahm (F), Scott (F), Homa (F), Zalatoris (F), Hossler (F), Daffue (9*), Power (7), Lee (7), Fitzpatrick (6), Woodland (5*), Rose (5*), Izumida (3*)
The 2020 champion Bryson DeChambeau has a face on, after yipping a tiddler at 14. The bogey immediately hands back the shot he picked up at 13 to the field. He’s back where he started at level par. MJ Daffue’s fast start of three birdies in the first five holes seems an awfully long time ago, too. Bogeys at 15, 16 and 18. Throw in a birdie at 17, and he’s out in 34, which on the whole is more than acceptable, but it’s all about context and the 33-year-old South African debutant won’t be feeling too chipper at the minute.
Thanks John. So, the travails of Cam Smith and Andrew Novak, then. Smith, having almost whiffed a chip out from the bushes to the right of 15, is staring a double bogey in the face. But he rattles in a 15-footer to limit the damage. He’s +1 and despite it all, life won’t seem so bad. Not so for poor Novak, who ends up with a triple-bogey seven on 10. Not a good way to start the most difficult stretch of holes on the course. Having enjoyed a share of the lead, he’s back in the pack at level par.
Thomas, having birdied the sixth, his putting game looking in good nick, then makes a mess of his drive on the seventh. That’s well wide, way out to his right. Shane Lowry, on the fifth, hits his drive but the ball seems to be caught in the headlands above the green. Mickelson follows him to the tee, there’s a call of “fore”, as it swings from left to right. Phil hacks it out, and somehow lands on the green, though some way off the hole
Oosthuizen, watching that Phil drive, wisely chooses to shoot left. Novak’s hit some problems on the tenth, and Koepka, on the sixth, ends up drawing his shot into the stands, and off the knee of a spectator. Ouch, on both counts. Novak is forced to chop out on the tenth and only does so in going from the rough to the even less smooth. He then has to hack out, and tries his best to stay on the green, but ends up on the far lip. Cameron Smith, mullet resplendent, is also having problems. It’s looking pretty tricky out there.
And who better to guide you through the tricky stuff than Scott Murray? He’s back. Enjoy.
Dustin Johnson gets caught in the wind by blamming his drive on the fourth into what looks like verboten territory. You’re not in Hemel Hempstead anymore. Andrew Novak has a joint-lead, having birdied the ninth. That’s four on -3: Novak, Dahmen, McIlroy, Lingmerth and Tarren. Na was on -3 a moment ago but a double bogey on the 15th means he is back on -1.
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Brooks Koepka has made a slow start, dropping two shots and on the fifth, while Bryson DeChambeau is also out there, even par after three holes. Hovland, on the sixth, clanks his tee shot into some deep rough. Here comes Phil, on the fourth, needing birdie after his slow start, and then rimming his long putt around and then back out. He has to settle for par. Rose plugs one in at 13, and is at evens. Na’s run is in trouble, he’s on 15, and has played four without even being on the green.
Justin Thomas, on the 5th, in a bunker, and after his wedge shot, he’s back in the bunker, just one the other side of the pin. A bogey becomes likelier. On the same hole, Tony Finau’s short wedge from uphill spins past the hole, and he makes par rather than birdie. Thomas digs himself out of the sand but still has work to do from five feet; he holes out to roars. Good save. Kevin Na, after the 15th, on -3, is making the likeliest charge, and with a breeze out there, there may not be many more. Maybe those LIV lads have got it right by starting simultaneously over the 18. Though perhaps not, too.
Hello, all. I shall attempt to guide you through the next passage of play. Not many low scores out there in Massachusetts, are there?
... and with that, I’ll hand you over to John Brewin. Back in a bit!
MJ Daffue slips out of the lead after bogey at 15. After playing the tricky stretch between 10 and 14 almost to perfection, as well. That’s the pure distilled tincture of golf, right there. His place on the leaderboard is taken by Kevin Na, who drains a 20-footer at 14 for his third birdie in five holes.
-3: Tarren (F), Lingmerth (F), McIlroy (F), Dahmen (F), Na (5*)
-2: Buckley (F), NeSmith (F), Harman (F), Wise (F), Daffue (6*), Greaser -a- (3*)
None of the LIV guys seem to be getting any pelters from the crowd. Kevin Na’s early efforts have been well received, while Dustin Johnson has just raked in a long bounceback birdie putt on 3 to great acclaim. Phil Mickelson’s delicate little lob from thick rough while shortsided at 2, scrambling par, got the gallery going as well. Nice to hear everyone getting along.
If we're kind and polite, the world will be right. Thank you.
— Paddington (@paddingtonbear) June 4, 2022
An eventful start for the 2013 champion Justin Rose. Bogey at 10, then nearly an ace at the dinky par-three 11th. He tidies up for a bounceback birdie to return to level par. Rose won his US Open at Merion, another singular, old-school track squeezed into a relatively small area. Will that ring a few welcome bells? He looks in a fairly good mood, so perhaps.
MJ Daffue becomes the latest unheralded name to join the leaders. He birdies 14, completing the hardest section of the entire course in three under par. Kevin Na meanwhile follows birdie at 10 with another at 13. He was inches away from birdie at 11, as well. Not bad for a man who has missed the last three cuts at the US Open.
-3: Tarren (F), Lingmerth (F), McIlroy (F), Dahmen (F), Daffue (5*)
-2: Buckley (F), NeSmith (F), Harman (F), Wise (F), Na (4*)
Joel Dahmen pars the last, and the 34-year-old from Washington posts a fine opening round of 67. He’s never survived the cut at a US Open, but is looking good to snap that run this week. Meanwhile opening bogey for Phil Mickelson, and a vague air of despondency descends on the birthday boy, 52 years young today.
Birdie for Joel Dahmen at the par-five 8th. It’s no more than he deserves after a clever chip that initially looks seriously overhit, but in fact has been deliberately knocked past the hole to utilise the camber at the back of the green, the ball gathering back to kick-in distance. He joins the leaders at -3.
-3: Tarren (F), Lingmerth (F), McIlroy (F), Dahmen (17*)
The starter announces Phil Mickelson. Plenty of anticipation regarding the reception he’s going to get ... will he be the lightening rod for LIV-based flak? - but the six-time runner-up gets a warm, respectful ovation. He blows his cheeks out, then cracks one down the middle. Everyone friends again.
A lull as the first wave make their way home, and the afternoon starters make their way out. Will the peace will be maintained when the LIV Tour’s Phil Mickelson takes to the 1st tee? We’re about to find out.
Wise gets his drop, but can only lob into the centre of the 9th. His attempt to salvage par with a 40-foot rake never looks like dropping, and like McIlroy before him, finishes with a bogey. But that’s still a fine 68.
Brian Harman pars 9 and ends his day with a 68. Coming behind, Aaron Wise sends his approach into the tall fescue to the right of the green. Even more trouble than Rory was in a while back. He’ll get a drop, as his backswing will be hindered by the stand, but he’ll still be shortsided and coming over a bunker. Big mistake, and a chance to take the lead on his own has suddenly become a fight to keep hold of a share.
Four players now share the lead ... because on the par-five 8th, Aaron Wise steers in a 15-foot eagle putt with plenty of right-to-left swing! That’s a fine way to bounce back after the disappointing short miss at the previous hole. Meanwhile the second wave are taking to the course, and the first of them to trouble the upper echelons of the leaderboard is the 33-year-old South African debutant MJ Daffue, who has opened with birdies at 10 and 11.
-3: Tarren (F), Lingmerth (F), McIlroy (F), Wise (17*)
-2: Buckley (F), NeSmith (F), Harman (17*), Dahmen (16*), Daffue (2*)
McIlroy doesn’t have much of a lie, and can only whip his ball 12 feet past the flag. He can’t make the one coming back. In fact, he races it three feet past, and that’s now a tester for bogey. Before he can take it, Hideki Mastsuyama rolls in a ten-foot birdie putt to return a level-par 70. McIlroy then holes his putt, finishing disappointingly with his first bogey of the day. When the sting dies down, he’ll be pretty darn pleased with his 67.
McIlroy tosses his club away in disgust after losing his approach into 9 to the right. His ball disappears in the thick greenside rough, and he doesn’t have a lot of green to work with. He’ll be doing very well to get up and down for his par. His card is blemish free at the minute. Big scramble coming up.
Brian Harman is a couple of dimples away from rolling in an eagle putt on 8. He yelps in irritation, but taps in and walks off the green with a spring in his step anyway. He joins the group at -2 ... as does Joel Dahmen, after back-to-back birdies at 5 and 6.
The PGA runner-up Will Zalatoris started cold, with two bogeys in the first four holes. But he’s turned things around marvellously. Birdies at 13, 14 and now 17, and another high finish at a major no longer seems as fanciful as it did a couple of hours ago. He’s -1. Meanwhile the leader Rory McIlroy sends a stinger down the middle of 9, and will already be dreaming of a third consecutive birdie that would send a shiver all the way down the leaderboard.
Rory McIlroy moves into the lead on his own! He rolls in his putt on 8 for back-to-back birdies. Meanwhile it’s three birdies in four holes for his playing partner and friend Xander Schauffele, who gets up and down from a greenside bunker to move into red figures at -1. A reminder that the Californian has never finished lower than seventh at a US Open! Meanwhile Aaron Wise had been going along well, after birdies at 2 and 5. But he pushes a short par putt at 7 and slips back to -1.
-4: McIlroy (17*)
-3: Tarren (F), Lingmerth (F)
-2: Buckley (F), NeSmith (F)
David Lingmerth is in with a 67. The 34-year-old Swede shares the clubhouse lead with Callum Tarren. Rory McIlroy is the other player currently at -3, though he’s still out on the course ... and has set himself up with a birdie chance at the par-five 8th, wedging his third to ten feet, and he’ll be putting uphill.
-3: Tarren (F), Lingmerth (F), McIlroy (16*)
-2: Buckley (F), NeSmith (F), Wise (15*)
Jordan Spieth finishes a frustrating day with a two-over 72. That’s not half bad given his start – he was three over after 4 - but bogey at the last will sour his mood a little. Meanwhile 69s for his playing partners today, Adam Scott and Max Homa.
Not such a happy end to the round for Rahm’s playing partner Collin Morikawa. He chunks his approach into a bunker guarding the front of 18, though he does pretty well to limit the damage to bogey with a crisp clip out of the sand to three feet. He’s also back with a 69. The reigning US Open and Open champions are both -1.
David Lingmerth misses a five-footer for birdie on the par-five 8th, which is playing as the easiest hole on the course today. He looks disgusted with the misread. No wonder: that would have given him sole ownership of the lead. He remains at -3. Meanwhile on 18, another big break for Jon Rahm. A beneficial drop allows him to find the fringe of the green, from where he steers in a 30-foot right-to-left swinger for an outrageous birdie! He could so easily have finished his round with consecutive double bogeys; instead, he’s played them in one under par ... and that’s where he finishes today. He signs for a 69, and fist pumps with a smile. His lunch will taste mighty fine after that!
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Rahm learns nothing from his escape on 17, sending another hook into deep trouble down the last. The ball disappears behind a concession stand. He’ll get a drop but it’s still not likely to be very nice. Better news for Rory, though! His wedge into 7 from 100 yards isn’t all that, but he strokes in a left-to-right slider from 20 feet to grab himself a share of the lead! That momentum-saving, post-tantrum par on 5 suddenly looks even more important.
-3: Tarren (F), Lingmerth (16*), McIlroy (16*)
Rahm is able to wedge up onto the top shelf of the green at 17. He nearly drains the birdie putt, too, which would have been absolutely outrageous given how wild his drive was. He’s slightly disappointed as his ball stubbornly stops one dimple shy of the cup, but he’d have snatched your hand off for this par when his tee shot was sailing into the woods. The defending champ remains at level par.
Back-to-back birdies for Will Zalatoris at 13 and 14, and the PGA runner-up is suddenly back at level par after a slow start. Also at level par, albeit heading in the wrong direction, is the amateur Stewart Hagestad, who doubles 13, the result of a wayward tee shot, then an unambiguous shank.
Buckley was out first this morning, and he’s been going round with Callum Tarren. England’s surprise package pars the last, and he’s home in 67 strokes. Meanwhile a huge break for Jon Rahm on 17. He hooks into the trees down the left, and hangs his head in a mixture of shame and irritation, but he’ll be buoyed when he sees where his ball has ended up: still in the thick rough, yes, but that’s a lot better than in the jungle. A lucky ricochet for the reigning champ.
-3: Tarren (F), Lingmerth (16*)
-2: Buckley (F), NeSmith (F), Morikawa (16), McIlroy (15*), Niemann (13), Wise (14*)
Hayden Buckley has only played the US Open once before. Last year, in fact, when he missed the cut at Torrey Pines. He’s after doing something a little better this time round. Birdies at 5 and 8, then a fine up and down from the front of the green at 9 to save his par, and the resident of Tupelo, the birthplace of Elvis, is signing for a fine 68. A comeback special.
Callum Tarren hits the lead! He crashes his second at the par-five 8th to three feet, and calmly secures his eagle. The unheralded 31-year-old from Darlo has just picked up four shots in the last four holes! He shares the lead with David Lingmerth, but not with Stewart Hagestad, who follows up his birdie at 11 by handing the shot straight back at 12.
-3: Tarren (17*), Lingmerth (15*)
-2: Buckley (17*), NeSmith (17), Morikawa (16), McIlroy (14*), Niemann (13), Hagestad -a- (12)
Hats off to McIlroy. He calms down quickly, and splashes out to ten feet, before rolling in the par saver. Having salvaged the situation and maintained his momentum, he has the good grace to walk off the green looking somewhat sheepish. He remains at -2.
The red mist descends on Brookline! McIlroy, on the drivable par-four 5th, sends his tee shot into the thick oomska down the right. His ball nestles in thick rough just to the right of a deep bunker, in which McIlroy has to stand and attack his second with an almost horizontal club. He can only squirt his ball into another bunker, a few yards ahead, at which point he dramatically batters the sand with a murderous downward axe swipe – then once more with feeling! We’ve all been there. Meanwhile up on 15, Rahm’s poor approach leads to bogey, and a loud, booming, theatrical delivery of the eff-word. He’s level par. Nobody likes to see or hear any of this, except we sort of do. All hail the comedic qualities of the dignity-stripping tantrum!
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David Lingmerth joins Stewart Hagestad in the lead at -3. Birdie at 5, having knocked his second to four feet. There are now just 17 players under par. The wind, picking up, isn’t helping matters. Meanwhile on 15, the defending champ Jon Rahm’s lid starts to rattle. He pushes his approach from the centre of the fairway into deep greenside filth, and he snaps. “I don’t know what’s going on, man!” he rants at his caddie, before turning to fire daggers at the cameraman following him down the fairway. His eyes, lingering with uncomfortable menace, say: one more step closer and you’ll see what’s what. A hard stare of which Paddington would be proud.
Callum Tarren is making only his second start at a US Open this week. The 31-year-old from Darlington, who made it to Brookline via the final qualifiers, missed the cut at Pebble Beach in 2019, but he’s shaping to do something more significant this time round. He’s just followed up a quite sensational par scramble at the par-three 6th – where he left himself shortsided in the tall fescue to the front right of the green, only to lob magically to six feet when simply holding the green was a task in itself – with birdie at 7. He’s -1.
You’ll have noticed that McIlroy remains at -2. He had to set his first putt on 4 nearly 20 feet wide left of the hole. He judged it well, tickling his ball down the slippery green and swinging it back to three feet. He tidied up for his par.
The amateur Stewart Hagestad bounces back with birdie at the diddly 11! He sends a lob wedge over the flag to five feet, then rolls in the putt. Meanwhile bogey at 15 for Matthew NeSmith, and an amateur has sole ownership of the US Open lead at Brookline. Party like it’s 1913! It’s apt that Hagestad has hit the front at 11, because the hole hasn’t been used in a US Open here since Francis Ouimet won that year ... and it was at this hole (then playing as 10) that Ouimet took control of his playoff with a par while Harry Vardon and Ted Ray both bogeyed. Some things are just meant to be.
-3: Hagestad -a- (11)
-2: NeSmith (15), Morikawa (14), Lingmerth (13*), McIlroy (13*), Niemann (12), Schenk (11)
A big break for McIlroy at 4. He flays his drive towards the thick stuff down the left. But he’s pulled it to such an extent that the ball whistles into the gallery, and ends up on a patch of trampled-down grass. That allows him to draw one into the heart of the green without too much drama. He’s still left with a tricky downhill 30-footer for birdie, and he’d grab par with both hands, but on balance he’ll be pretty happy with his situation given how wild his drive was.
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Only 18 players under par at the moment. Not many birdies to report. Just the way the USGA like it.
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Another par for McIlroy, this time at 3. He’s slightly agitated, having seen his right-to-left birdie slider from 15 feet lip out. Meanwhile Collin Morikawa bogeys 13, having pushed his approach wide right, then missed a five-footer to salvage par. That means Matthew NeSmith is out in front on his own, though he retains his lead by the skin of his teeth, hectically racing a long birdie putt six feet past on 14, but making the very missable one coming back.
-3: NeSmith (14)
-2: Morikawa (13), Lingmerth (13*), McIlroy (12*), Niemann (11), Hagestad -a- (9)
A three-putt bogey for the amateur Stewart Hagestad at 9, and it was fun to think about a rerun of 1913 while it lasted. He slips back to -2. Here’s the legendary David Davies on Francis Ouimet’s famous smash and grab.
Another sensational scramble by Rory McIlroy! He pushes his tee shot at 2 well right of the green, into the tall, thick fescue. He does well to swish out to 12 feet, about the best he could do. But he’s left with a gently oscillating downhill putt to save his par. He strokes it in confidently, and performs a couple of small fist pumps, aware how big these sort of momentum savers can be at a US Open. Speaking of which, Collin Morikawa misreads the break of a 20-foot birdie putt on 12, leaving himself a nerve-tingling six footer. No problem! In it goes, and he retains the lead at -3 with Matthew NeSmith and the Ouimet de nos jours, Stewart Hagestad.
Stewart Hagestad was low amateur at the 2017 Masters. A financial analyst, currently studying for his MBA, he’s looking to achieve something similar here this week. He’s followed up birdies at 5 and 7 with another at 8 – the latest a reward for a lovely long-distance bunker splash to three feet – and he joins the leading group! Francis Ouimet, famously the winner here in 1913, was an amateur. Just sayin’.
-3: NeSmith (12), Morikawa (11), Hagestad -a- (8)
-2: Lingmerth (11*), McIlroy (10*), Niemann (9)
Joaquin Niemann watched in horror at Southern Hills last month, as his friend and compatriot Mito Pereira threw away his chance to win the PGA Championship with that daft, overly aggressive play from the tee at 18. Niemann’s always been the player most likely to win Chile’s first major title, though. Having started out with bogey at 1 today, he’s bounced back in some style, following up birdie at 6 with a stunning eagle at 8, bashing his second from 210 yards to four feet and making no mistake with the short putt. He joins the group at -2.
The wind is picking up a little bit. Nothing too serious, but it’s expected to get even fresher for the second wave this afternoon, reaching 20 miles per hour, with gusts of up to 25. On Sky, the 2002 PGA champion Rich Beem suggests this shouldn’t be too much of a game-changer, providing the greens don’t firm up dramatically.
Rory McIlroy turns in 33. He walks in a gentle left-to-right 20-footer on 18, and the in-form Canadian Open champion looks in the mood for his first major since 2014. Then again, how many times have we said that since, er, 2014, so let’s not heap any unnecessary expectation on him yet. Early days, all that. He’s -2, though, just one off the pace set by Matthew NeSmith and Collin Morikawa.
Jordan Spieth is trending in the right direction. Birdie at 9, and having dropped three shots in the first four holes, he’ll be cock-a-hoop at making the turn in 36 shots. The 2015 champ is +1, and one way or another, is never anything other than entertaining.
A slow start for the PGA runner-up Will Zalatoris. The 25-year-old Californian has a mixed record at the US Open: missed cuts in 2018 and last year, but a top-six finish at Winged Foot in 2020, when he made one ace in the first round and very nearly another six holes later. Bogeys at 1 and 4, though he’s just repaired some of the damage with birdie at 7. He’s +1.
They’re not in the leading group for long. Collin Morikawa makes a 15-footer at 9, then Matthew NeSmith nails a 20-footer on the dinky 122-yard par-three 11th. Jon Rahm meanwhile moves the other way after bogey at 9, the punishment for sending his approach into sand on the right. The big Spaniard slips to -1.
-3: NeSmith (11), Morikawa (9)
-2: Lingmerth (9*), Homa (8), Muñoz (7)
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A couple of new members join the leading group. Max Homa, having started his round with bogey, makes three birdies in four holes at 5, 6 and now 8. He’ll probably feel he should have the lead all to himself, having missed a right-to-left curler from ten feet for eagle, but this is the US Open, let’s not get too greedy. Meanwhile David Lingmerth recalls the heady days of 2015, when he began the PGA with a 67, by rolling in his second birdie of the day from distance at 18.
Rory McIlroy cards his first birdie of the day. He sends his tee shot at the par-three 17th to 20 feet. His putt looks to be staying up stubbornly on the high side, but turns sharply right just before it gets to the hole and drops. The 2011 champion is -1, having completed the hardest stretch on the course. Meanwhile a three-putt double bogey for Russell Henley at 15, and he slips back into the pack at level par.
Had Chile’s Mito Pereira not blown up down the 72nd hole at the PGA last month, South America would have had its third major champion, after the Argentinians Roberto De Vicenzo and Angel Cabrera. Perhaps Sebastián Muñoz can make it instead? The 29-year-old Colombian has followed up birdie at 3 with a tramliner at 6 to join the leading group at -2 ... a group that also now includes the defending champ Jon Rahm, who nearly eagles the par-five 8th with a long right-to-left drifter, but settles for his birdie.
-2: NeSmith (9), Morikawa (8), Rahm (8), Muñoz (6), Henley (5*)
Jordan Spieth continues to struggle and entertain in equal measure. After missing the green at the par-three 6th by several miles to the right, for his fourth bogey of the day, he whips his approach at 7 to five feet, and rolls in the birdie putt. Just the one par for Spieth through his first seven holes, and he’s +2.
One of those aforementioned birdie-pars at 15 for Rory McIlroy. He shoves his tee shot at 15 into thick oomska down the right. Forced to gouge out, he leaves himself with a 15-foot downhill putt to save his par ... and he rolls it confidently into the centre of the cup. That’s his second fine scramble already: he drove into trouble down the right of 13, but found the front of the two-tier green and made a very testing two-putt par. McIlroy currently playing with the confidence of a man coming off a final round of 62 and victory at last week’s Canadian Open.
Abraham Ancer finished in the top ten at the PGA last month. The 31-year-old Mexican won’t be repeating his Southern Hills heroics this week. He’s been forced to withdraw after falling ill, and Patton Kizzire will take his place. Rickie Fowler is the next cab on the rank should anyone else withdraw.
Matthew NeSmith has no record whatsoever in the majors. Well, that’s not quite accurate: a missed cut at the 2015 US Open at Chambers Bay, and that’s it for the 28-year-old South Carolinian. But he’s now a joint leader of this one. Part of the second group out early this morning, he’s followed up birdie at 5 with another at the par-five 8th. Meanwhile on the other par five at Brookline, the 14th, Xander Schauffele rolls in a ten footer to move to -1.
-2: NeSmith (8), Morikawa (7), Henley (4*)
It’s been a solid start for Rory McIlroy. Four pars, 10 through 13, on what some argue is the most testing stretch of the course. McIlroy’s paired with Xander Schauffele and Hideki Matsuyama. Schauffele – who has never finished lower than seventh in his five US Open appearances – has matched Rory shot for shot so far. Not so the 2021 Masters champ Matsuyama, who followed birdie at 11 with a three-putt double bogey at 12. He’s +1.
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Jon Rahm has warmed up the putter. Back-to-back birdies at 5 and 6, and he’s into red figures in short order. He’s -1. The defending champ is going around with Collin Morikawa today; the Open champion leaves his tee shot at the par-three 6th short and right, but whips out from thick cabbage to four feet, and scrambles his par. It’s a US Open, and more often than not, those babies feel like birdies. He remains in a share of lead with Russell Henley at -2.
The 2015 champion Jordan Spieth is currently demonstrating the benefits of finding the fairway. Never the most accurate from the tee, he’s yet to hit one, and as a result he’s dropped shots at 1, 3 and 4. He’ll need all his scrambling genius this week, and he demonstrates that, too, getting up and down from sand at the short par-four 5th to haul himself back to +2. Spieth’s combined score for last four opening rounds at the US Open is +18. He’ll need to go some to put a dent into that surprisingly awful record today.
Henley is quickly joined at the top by Collin Morikawa. The reigning Open champion could be very dangerous here this week, with approach play at a premium to Brookline’s often small and tightly guarded greens. The best iron player in the world birdies 2 and 5, and while it’s early doors, the leaderboard is already taking shape.
-2: Morikawa (5), Henley (3*)
-1: Buckley (7*), NeSmith (7), Vick -a- (6), Scott (4), Muñoz (3)
Russell Henley is making his eighth start at the US Open this week. The 33-year-old from Georgia has yet to finish in the top ten, but he did tie for low amateur in 2010 at Pebble Beach, and enjoyed his best result last year at Torrey Pines with a tie for 13th. He’s started fast today, following up birdie at 10 by almost holing out from 180 yards at 12. He taps in for a second birdie and becomes the first man to reach -2.
Shall we start with news of the defending champion? It only seems right. Jon Rahm won last year’s event at Torrey Pines by steering in two big left-to-right breakers on 17 and 18. Golf being golf, his flat stick is letting him down as he sets about his defence. Short putts missed at 3 and 4, one for par, another for birdie, and he’s +1 so far. The second miss was a particular shame, as he’d sent a delightful short iron into 4, using the right-to-left slope of the green to gather his ball to four feet. Having said that, it was a downhill putt, and you don’t want to be leaving yourself too many of those this week.
Preamble
Yes, yes, the LIV Tour has been hanging around the run-up to the 122nd US Open at Brookline like a bad smell. But let’s not allow it to linger, for none of the players involved with the breakaway tour are considered particularly likely winners of the USGA’s flagship event. In fact, three of the top four favourites this week – Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas and defending champion Jon Rahm – have been vocal in their defence of the PGA Tour, while the other – new Masters champion Scottie Scheffler – gave the new format some side-eye ahead of last week’s Canadian Open, pointing out that “maybe outside of DJ”, he hadn’t “really noticed anyone missing this week”. Ouch!
Other dudes have to be taken into serious consideration. The Players champion and Masters nearly man Cam Smith. The FedEx champ Patrick Cantlay. Sam Burns, a three-time winner on Tour this season. The in-form Matthew Fitzpatrick. PGA runner-up Will Zalatoris. The two-time major winner Collin Morikawa. Hideki Matsuyama. Shane Lowry. Im Sung-jae. Xander Schauffele. Tony Finau. Viktor Hovland. Jordan Spieth. The Sonics. The Sonics. The Sonics.
Brookline is mainly remembered these days for the 1999 Ryder Cup, Justin Leonard, Ollie’s line, all that. But it’s hosted three previous US Opens, won by Curtis Strange in 1988, Julius Boros in 1963, and most famously of all, the amateur Francis Ouimet in 1913. A fame-infused roll call, right there.
Speaking of which, some of the big names go out early. It’s going to be a long day, so without further ado, here are the starting tee times for the first round. Pick your favourite and settle down for four days of major-championship golf. Three-round confections with shotgun starts have nothing on the United States Open Championship, baby. It’s on!
Starting at hole 1:
11:45 Matt McCarty, (a) Michael Thorbjornsen, Erik Barnes
11:56 Matthew NeSmith, Patrick Rodgers, (a) Travis Vick
12:07 Troy Merritt, (a) William Mouw, Andrew Putnam
12:18 Collin Morikawa, James Piot, Jon Rahm (Spa)
12:29 Max Homa, Adam Scott (Aus), Jordan Spieth
12:40 Daniel Berger, Patrick Cantlay, Billy Horschel
12:51 Sebastian Munoz (Col), Alexander Noren (Swe), Harold Varner III
13:02 Joaquin Niemann (Chi), Cameron Young, Will Zalatoris
13:13 (a) Stewart Hagestad, Grayson Murray, Adam Schenk
13:24 Branden Grace (Rsa), Mackenzie Hughes (Can), Guido Migliozzi (Ita)
13:35 Beau Hossler, Satoshi Kodaira (Jpn), Kalle Samooja (Fin)
13:46 Richard Mansell (Eng), Roger Sloan (Can), Tomoyasu Sugiyama (Jpn)
13:57 Keith Greene, Benjamin Silverman (Can), (a) Caleb Manuel
17:30 Kevin Chappell, Andrew Novak, Chase Seiffert
17:41 Thorbjoern Olesen (Den), Brian Stuard, Nick Hardy
17:52 Sam Horsfield (Eng), Shaun Norris (Rsa), Cameron Tringale
18:03 Sung Jae Im (Kor), Guillermo Mito Pereira (Chi), Erik van Rooyen (Rsa)
18:14 Tony Finau, Viktor Hovland (Nor), Justin Thomas
18:25 Joo-Hyung Kim (Kor), Min-Woo Lee (Aus), Seamus Power (Irl)
18:36 Matthew Fitzpatrick (Eng), Dustin Johnson, Webb Simpson
18:47 Shane Lowry (Irl), Phil Mickelson, Louis Oosthuizen (Rsa)
18:58 Danny Lee (Nzl), (a) Keita Nakajima (Jpn), Nick Taylor (Can)
19:09 (a) Nick Dunlap, Jim Furyk, Adam Hadwin (Can)
19:20 Richard Bland (Eng), Ryan Fox (Nzl), Rikuya Hoshino (Jpn)
19:31 Jonas Blixt (Swe), Bo Hoag, Todd Sinnott (Aus)
19:42 Sean Jacklin (Sco), (a) Charles Reiter, Isaiah Salinda
Starting at hole 10:
11:45 Hayden Buckley, Fran Quinn, Callum Tarren (Eng)
11:56 (a) Sam Bennett, Kurt Kitayama, Denny McCarthy
12:07 Wil Besseling (Ned), Wyndham Clark, Brandon Matthews
12:18 Si Woo Kim (Kor), Sepp Straka (Aut), David Lingmerth (Swe)
12:29 Victor Perez (Fra), Davis Riley, Scott Stallings
12:40 Hideki Matsuyama (Jpn), Rory McIlroy (NIrl), Xander Schauffele
12:51 Brian Harman, Russell Henley, Kevin Kisner
13:02 Keegan Bradley, Marc Leishman (Aus), Aaron Wise
13:13 Stewart Cink, Francesco Molinari (Ita), (a) Laird Shepherd (Eng)
13:24 Marcel Schneider (Ger), Joseph Bramlett, Chan Kim
13:35 Joel Dahmen, Lanto Griffin, Jinichiro Kozuma (Jpn)
13:46 (a) Fred Biondi (Bra), Harry Hall (Eng), Chris Gotterup
13:57 Luke Gannon, Chris Naegel, Andrew Beckler
17:30 Sean Crocker, Jediah Morgan (Aus), Taylor Montgomery
17:41 M. J. Daffue (Rsa), (a) Maxwell Moldovan, Yannik Paul (Ger)
17:52 Adria Arnaus (Spa), Talor Gooch, Tom Hoge
18:03 Sergio Garcia (Spa), Tyrrell Hatton (Eng), Kevin Na
18:14 Abraham Ancer (Mex), Sam Burns, Thomas Pieters (Bel)
18:25 Brooks Koepka, Scottie Scheffler, Cameron Smith (Aus)
18:36 Corey Conners (Can), (a) Austin Greaser, Luke List
18:47 Bryson DeChambeau, Justin Rose (Eng), Gary Woodland
18:58 Tommy Fleetwood (Eng), Kyoung-Hoon Lee (Kor), Patrick Reed
19:09 Harris English, Lucas Herbert (Aus), Jason Kokrak
19:20 (a) Ben Lorenz, Davis Shore, Samuel Stevens
19:31 (a) Adrien Dumont (Bel), Daijiro Izumida (Jpn), Sebastian Soederberg (Swe)
19:42 Brady Calkins, Ryan Gerard, Jesse Mueller
