Johnson in the driving seat at US Open

‘I thought the course would play a lot tougher than this.

One year after American Dustin Johnson let the US Open slip away from him at Chambers Bay, he drove his way to the top of the leaderboard yesterday at Oakmont on a marathon day of 36 holes with rounds of 67-69 that left him poised for another shot at a major.

‘‘I’ve got a good game plan for this course,’’ Johnson said. ‘‘And if I keep driving it like I am, I’ll be tough to beat.’’ For all his chances in the majors – four of them and counting – he has the remarkable capacity to move on. The most crushing was last summer at Chambers Bay, when Johnson had a 12-foot eagle putt to win the US Open and three-putted to finish one behind Jordan Spieth. When asked if last year motivated him, Johnson dead-panned, ‘‘What happened last year?’’

This year has been nothing short of impressive. Johnson played 27 holes before making his only bogey in two rounds. He still hasn’t made a birdie on a par five. And he was at four-under 136, the best score by two shots of the 50 players who finished two rounds in the raindelayed championship.

Andrew Landry had a much shorter day.

The 28-year-old qualifier only had to hit one shot yesterday when he returned in the morning to make a 10-foot birdie putt for a 66 and the lead.

It was the best opening round in 10 majors at Oakmont, beating a record shared by Ben Hogan and Well-placed Kiwi Danny Lee Tom Watson. Landry also became the first player in 30 years to have the sole lead after his first US Open round.

Now his name shares billing with Johnson, whom Spieth recently described as ‘‘arguably the most talented player on the PGA Tour.’’

Landry didn’t start his second round until the early hours of this morning, the same as Kiwi Danny Lee, due to the storm delays on the opening day.

Lee bogeyed the par-three 16th as he returned to complete five holes in his first round yesterday, signing for a one-under 69 that sees him well placed just three shots behind the leaders.

‘‘I’m happy with one under,’’ Lee told reporters. ‘‘I thought the course would play a lot tougher than this. The rain kind of helped us. You could actually hit it close to the hole and not worry about it releasing. That was a big help.’’

Fellow Kiwi Tim Wilkinson was forced to play 36 holes yesterday, carding a respectable one-over 71 in his opening round but then shooting a 75 in his afternoon round to leave him an anxious wait to see if he makes the cut.