Thomas takes charge of day one at Winged Foot
WINGED FOOT may well get its revenge eventually but the course rated as one of the three toughest in world golf by no less than Tiger Woods proved to be surprisingly benign on the opening day of the 120th US Open.
Predictions that an over-par score would be good enough to win the rearranged second major of a truncated season looked wide of the mark following a rash of low scoring in the New York autumn sunshine.
A clutch of the world’s leading players took advantage of the conditions and some generous pin positions to enhance their chances of being in contention come Sunday evening.
Justin Thomas led the way for most of the day, the world No.3 carding a five-under par round of 65, the lowest score ever recorded at this venue in a US Open.
“It’s a beautiful course,” cooed Thomas, as if trying to keep in its good books. “This championship means a lot to me. You could argue that it’s one of the hardest ones to win just because of how gruelling and tough it can be from time to time. But we got off to a good start this week.
“It’s one of the best rounds I’ve played in a while, tee to green. There are a couple things that definitely could have been better but I made sure all of my misses were in the right spot.”
Nestled in just behind Thomas was Patrick Reed – whose round of 66 included a one-hopper holein-one on the seventh – with Rory McIlroy one of a group of players another shot back on three-under.
“I put the ball in play much more today than I have done in the previous few weeks,” said the Northern Irishman. “That bodes well.
“That’s what you need to do around here, just keep it in the short stuff, and then the greens are still receptive enough where you can give yourself some chances. I just went out and took what was given to me. I was a little more relaxed and played really nicely.
“It was one of those rounds I felt like could have been a little lower than it was, but 67 is a really good start.”
Not everyone made hay on a day of low scoring. Poor
Phil Mickelson, probably still scarred from memories of the previous US Open here in
2006 when he made a hash of the last when a par would have taken the trophy, seemed determined to play every second shot from the rough after toiling with the driver. “I’m sick of this,” sighed Lefty as another shot veered offline.
There were similar struggles for old adversary, Woods. The three-time US Open champion was out with Thomas but failed to match his playing partner’s form as he eventually signed for a three-over 73.
One fluffed wedge shot would have induced embarrassed groans from the galleries had any spectators been permitted entry to watch.
Picture: Getty
“There was a bit of ebb and flow to the round,” said Woods with some understatement. “It seemed like most of my drives on the front nine landed in the fairway but ended up in bad spots.”
The three Scots involved will also have their work cut out if they are to extend their stay over the weekend.
Playing together in a morning grouping, Sandy Scott and Robert MacIntyre both struggled over the back nine to leave themselves with an uphill battle to make the cut.
Nairn amateur Scott, playing in his first major, closed with three bogeys to card a 75.
“I got off to a good start, played the front nine nice and solid, hit plenty of fairways and greens, gave myself a few good looks,” said the Texas Tech University student.
“But I started to miss a few fairways on the back nine and kind of gave myself too much work, really. I was scrambling for pars and made some bogeys. But there was certainly some good golf in there.”
MacIntyre fared one better with a 74 after finishing with a par on his US Open debut, while Connor Syme was fiveover through eight holes in one of the later groups.