J. J. Spaun shoots opening 66
The opening round of the 125th US Open (12-15 June) at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania, USA can always deliver a few surprises. And that is exactly what happened yesterday. The big guns really struggled with the fast greens, countless bunkers and dauntingly-long rough at Oakmont which left a 34-year old American the leader. His name is J.J. Spaun. The player from Los Angeles shot a bogey-free 4-under par 66 and has a one-shot advantage over South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence.
Two shots further behind on 68 are two-time champion Brooks Koepka (USA) and Sungjae Im and Si Woo Lee from Korea. Spain’s Jon Rahm, who won the US Open in 2021, lurks at 1-under par 69 with Ben Griffin (USA), Thomas Detry (Belgium), Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen (Denmark) and qualifier James Nicholas (USA).
Winner of the Valero Texas Open in 2022, J.J. Spaun turned professional in 2012. He is ranked as number 25 in the world. Starting at the 10th hole yesterday, his bogey-free 66, which included four birdies on the back nine and straight pars on the front nine, has really given the big guns something to think about. Spaun even lost to Major winner Rory McIlroy earlier this year in a play-off for the Players Championship. So what about Lawrence the runner-up?
Well, 28-year old Thriston Lawrence has had four victories on the DP World Tour and is playing in his second US Open. He made a super run of six birdies in his opening round and is now keen to hold his position at the top of the leaderboard on day two.
As many players struggled to leave their mark on the par-70 course, there were a few who had some thrilling moments. America’s Patrick Reed, for example. He made a remarkable albatross at the par-5 4th where he holed his second shot with a 3-wood from 286 yards. This was the 4th albatross in US Open history.
Shane Lowry from Ireland, who was runner-up in 2016, made the first ever eagle two on the par-4 3rd at Oakmont. Max Moldovan also made a delightful eagle at the 484-yard par-4 hole. He holed-out from 191 yards with an 8-iron.
So what happened to the world’s top players?
Well, Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele really took a while to warm-up at Oakmont. They carded rounds of 73, 74 and 72, respectively. Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau also had a few problems and finished with a 3-over par 73.
Among the 156 players, there are 15 amateurs playing in the 125th US Open. No matter how tough the course is, all of them have a chance of making the halfway-cut to play at the weekend. Now the Oakmont course may not appeal to you as a golfer, but there is bound to be a lot of excitement over the next 54 holes. So please sit back and enjoy the entertainment!
Wendy Hoad
Editor
MAIN PHOTOGRAPH: World Number One, Scottie Scheffler and Collin Morikawa struggle in the US Open.