Rookie Landry leads at US Open

OAKMONT: PGA Tour rookie Andrew Landry needed just one shot to set the clubhouse lead yesterday as the players returned to a soggy Oakmont Country Club at the weather-hit US Open.

When play had finally been suspended on Thursday after thunderstorms had caused three delays at the year’s second major championship, Landry was lining up a 10-foot birdie putt on his final hole, the par-four ninth.

After returning to a rain-softened course yesterday morning, the 28-year-old American coolly sank the putt to card a four-under 66 for an early one-stroke lead.

English former world No 1 Lee Westwood was in second after making birdies on his last two holes for a 67, and Ireland’s Shane Lowry carded a 68.

Among the other big names in the field, defending champion Jordan Spieth opened with a 72, 2011 winner Rory McIlroy struggled to a 77, including eight bogeys, and Masters champion Danny Willett returned a 75.

Landry’s opening round was the lowest in a US Open played at Oakmont, eclipsing the 67s shot by America’s Ben Hogan in 1953 and South Africa’s Gary Player in 1973.

“Just making putts,” said Landry when asked what had been the key to his impressive start at his first US Open.

“Game all around was sharp, from tee to green to chipping to everything you do.

“I’m not a guy that’s going to go out and shoot 60 and 61 and 62. I’m just a consistent guy that’s going to shoot 68 and make a lot of pars.”

Twice Masters champion Bubba Watson launched his US Open title bid with a 69, finishing level with fellow Americans Kevin Streelman and amateur Scottie Scheffler and New Zealand’s Danny Lee.

With only nine players having completed the opening round on Thursday, the organisers were scrambling to get the tournament back on track and hope to get the second round finished by early afternoon today. – Reuters