Tacoma, United States - Dustin Johnson and Henrik Stenson both produced brilliant first rounds of 65 to take the joint early clubhouse lead in the US Open at Chambers Bay on Thursday.
The 30-year-old American Johnson had six birdies against one bogey in a round that made a mockery of fears that the 7,526-yard monster links-style course south of Seattle would be impossible to tame.
Having taken six months off last year to deal with unspecified "personal issues", the South Carolinian has come close in all four majors, but has fallen agonisingly short of a maiden win.
He had a chance to equal the record low first round score at the US Open with a birdie at the par-three last, but he hit his tee-shot into a tough bunker and failed to get up and down.
"I just made a bad swing on nine and that it was the only bad swing I made all day," Johnson said.
Stenson, like Johnson also seeking his first major title after several near misses, then joined him on 65 with a monster putt at the last in a round that had seven birdies and two bogeys.
"It was a good day out there for me," he said. "I played as solid as I have played all year and rolled in a couple of putts there on the last two holes."
The big Swede and Johnson were two shots clear in the clubhouse as the morning wave of golfers in the 156-strong field came in having enjoyed near perfect playing conditions.
US Ryder Cup standout Patrick Reed was next best after a 66, with Matt Kuchar a further stroke back.
Cody Gribble, and American ranked 589th in the world was on 68, level with Italian Ryder Cup player Francesco Molinari, Jason Dufner and Scotland's Marc Warren.
Veteran Phil Mickelson hogged the early spotlight as he sought a first US Open title after a record six second-place finishes.
The American, who turned 45 on Tuesday, shot a one-under 69, after going out in three under 32.
Mickelson, who is also out to become just the sixth man to win all four Grand Slam titles, shot his first US Open score in the 60s since the first round at Merion in 2013.
"I'm very pleased with the way the round went. I hit a lot of good shots today. I shot under par the first day of the US Open," he said.
"The first round was the round I was going to be most nervous at, getting started. You don't want to have to fight to come back all the time.
"You want to get off to a solid start around par. And I got off to a good start and shot 1-under."
World number one and tournament favourite Rory McIlroy, got off to a disappointing start with a two-over 72.
Two birdies were offset by two bogeys on the back nine. He then steadied himself with a run of pars down the front nine before three-putting for bogey at the seventh and failing to get up and down from a bunker at his last hole.
The challenge of the golf course apart, there were other intriguing storylines to follow
McIlroy at 26 is seeking a fifth major title, Masters champion Jordan Spieth aims to make it halfway to the fabled calender-year Grand Slam and crowd favourite Mickelson is desperate to finally win a US Open, after six runner-up finishes, and in so doing complete his career Grand Slam.
Three-time champion Tiger Woods, meanwhile, needs to prove he can still compete with the best after a horrendous year which will end with his 40th birthday.
Woods and Spieth both had mid-afternoon tee-times.
AFP
