Late fightback keeps Spieth in running for career grand slam

the fifth and sixth from just off the green, the world No 2 was in danger of seeing his title challenge ruined on the opening day.

However, birdies on the next two holes, courtesy of what Spieth described as a “phenomenal” hybrid into the parfive seventh and a “fantastic” wedge to the eighth repaired most of the damage.

“Historically I’m pretty solid with the lead so that was kind of the goal,” said Spieth, who was followed around the course by friend and mentor Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time.

“It’s much easier when you are on the front page of the leaderboard than it is coming from behind. Given it’s the first round I know I’m still in it, but I know that tomorrow’s round becomes that much more important to work my way and stay in it. I’ve got to make up ground.

“If I’m five back at the start of the day, I’ve got to be less than five back after Friday to really feel like I can play the way this golf course needs to be played and still be able to win.

“I drove the ball well today. If you told me I was going to hit my driver the way that I did today, I would have definitely thought I shot a few under par. I can’t putt any worse than I did today.” Spieth’s playing part- ner Koepka, meanwhile, said he “felt like c**p” after hitting a marshal on the head with an errant drive.

Koepka’s tee shot on the 16th – his seventh hole of the day – was flying towards spectators to the right of the fairway when it hit a male marshal who was standing just inside the ropes.

The man was knocked to the ground and was pictured bleeding from a head wound, although he was able to joke with Koepka that he had done him a favour by diverting the ball back onto the fairway. Koepka went on to bogey the hole.

“I felt terrible about it,” Koepka said, although he had not shouted the traditional warning of ‘fore’ following his drive. “That’s never fun to walk up and see somebody, you just drilled them. I drilled him in the head, which is probably the worst part. To be honest with you, I felt like c**p.

“He was laughing and joking when I was up there, kept telling me, “You got a good break.” I was like, well, I still feel like c**p. But I got his information so I’ll probably reach out to him tonight and see how he’s doing. I’m sure he’s going to have quite a big headache.”

England’s Andrew “Beef” Johnston withdrew with a shoulder injury after carding a seven-over 78.