Fowler emerges as 1st-round leader
Canada’s Hadwin ties record with 6 straight birdies
ERIN, Wis. — Erin Hills played like a pushover for a U.S. Open.
Check out the score of Rickie Fowler, who matched the U.S. Open scoring record to par for the opening round with a 7-under 65.
Right behind him were 43 other players who broke par, breaking a championship record that had stood for 27 years. Canadian Adam Hadwin tied a U.S. Open record with six straight birdies. Erin Hills also played like a beast. Look no further than Rory McIlroy, the No. 2 player in the world, who didn’t hit a fairway after the 10th hole, shot 42 on the back nine and posted a 78, his worst score in 27 rounds at the U.S. Open. Jason Day made two triple bogeys and closed with a birdie to avoid the indignity of shooting 80. He still had his worst score in a U.S. Open.
There were as many amateurs who broke par as players in the top 10 in the world — two each.
On a wild day of highs and lows — and even a commercial blimp that crashed and caught fire outside the golf course during the round — Fowler emerged with a one-shot lead over Paul Casey and U.S. Open rookie Xander Schauffele in a most peculiar debut for the 11-year-old golf course. “Definitely not U.S. Open-like,” Marc Leishman said.
Defending champion Dustin Johnson made only one birdie in his round of 75. Taking the long walk to sign his card, he looked back at the rain-softened course and mild breeze and said wistfully, “You won’t get a better day for scoring.”
No one took advantage like Fowler, who never came seriously close to bogey because he was never in trouble.