The 117th playing U.S. Open got underway Thursday at Erin Hills and players are already feeling the full gamut of emotions expected during golf’s toughest test. From the much talked about fescue to relatively easy scoring conditions, depending on where you drove it off the tee, determined what golf course you were playing.
That’s why more than a quarter of the field was under par — the highest number since Medinah in 1990 — including a U.S. Open record-tying scoring performance by Rickie Fowler. It is also why Rory McIlroy, who recently said if you can’t hit a 60-yard wide fairway you might as well go home, ironically spent most of his day in the hay.
If you were in the fairway where Henrik Stenson was on the 451-yard par-4 11th, you had the green light. From 153-yards out, Stenson slam dunked his approach for the eagle two which was the highlight of his fairly uneventful day where he posted a 2-over 74 (T82). See that celebration? That’s why they call him the Iceman.
.@henrikstenson even impresses Henrik Stenson. #USOpen https://t.co/B6GaeHBbI5
— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 15, 2017
However, some were not so fortunate like Branden Grace who had some issues on the par-5 14th. What else do you expect during the U.S. Open!
The US Open we know and love pic.twitter.com/tuIOlCCLsZ
— Fore Play (@ForePlayPod) June 15, 2017
After the first round, Rickie Fowler leads by one thanks to a brilliant bogey-free, 7-under par 65, which tied the U.S. Open record for the lowest opening round in relation to par.
Paul Casey and Xander Schauffele are one off the pace after stellar 66s of their own. Current World No.1 Dustin Johnson shot a pedestrian 3-over 75, while McIlroy as mentioned earlier and Jason Day posted 6-over and 7-over, respectively. Phil Mickelson was a late scratch after he informed the USGA of his official decision to withdraw. This marks the first U.S. Open since 1994 that neither Phil nor Tiger is in the field.
Here is a recap of some of Thursday’s top moments and the leaderboard after round one:
Recapping the top moments from Round 1 of the 117th #USOpen at Erin Hills. pic.twitter.com/TwHYcoMftl
— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 16, 2017
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