HADWIN GOES ON A RECORD BIRDIE SPREE

ERIN, Wis. — Adam Hadwin didn’t know that he’d tied the U.S. Open record for consecutive birdies until he was told after the round.

Then again, it must not be easy keeping track of all his accomplishments this year. First, he shot 59 in January. Then he broke through with a PGA Tour victory in March. Now, he enters the second round of the U.S. Open tied for seventh place after a stunning 4-under 68 at Erin Hills on Thursday.

“I finally was able to close the deal this year at Valspar,” Hadwin said after his round. “I think the next thing is to contend at big events with the best players in the world, and that would be majors.”

Hadwin’s opening round didn’t have an auspicious start. After teeing off on the 10th hole in one of the day’s final groups, he bogeyed two of his first four holes. It looked as though the season’s second major would be a continuation of recent weeks, in which Hadwin’s game feels good but the results aren’t there. That’s when he made a birdie at the par-five 18th hole, then, in moving to the front nine, another five in a row.

By the time he reached the sixth hole, the 29-year-old had tied the consecutive birdie record of six and was in the top 10.

“I was thinking about that coming down the last few holes, wondering if I was close,” the golfer from Abbotsford, B.C., said. “I knew I had to be close given how difficult this championship is. So that’s kind of cool.”

The other Canadian in the field, Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., carded a 4-over 76.