Thomas takes lead at US Open
This wasn't the kind of fun JustinThomashadinmindfor aU.S. Open atWinged Foot. But he'll take it.
For all the hype and history of how much punishment Winged Foot has doled out over the years. Thomas took advantage of a surprising soft and gentle Thursday morning with a 5-under 65, the lowest score in six U.S. Opens on this tough Tillinghast design in Mamaroneck, New York.
All that got him was a one-shot lead over Patrick Reed, Thomas Pieters of Belgium and Matthew Wolff, the 21-year-old Californian making hisU.S. Open debut.
Rory McIlroy was among those two shots behind on a scoreboard filled with red numbers, an unusual site at a Winged Foot course that has never yielded so many rounds under par — 21 — in the opening round of aU.S. Open.
“It's helpful with three days left, but it's not even remotely close to being over,” Thomas said of his best start in a U.S Openor any major. “As great of a round and fun as it was, it's over with now, and I need to get over it.”
Thomaswent into theweek saying it was a “different kind of fun” to grind over pars, to hit middle irons to difficult pins instead of the lowscoring at so many other tournaments.
And then he delivered six birdies in the opening round, finishing with a 25-footer on the 18th on a putt he barely moved to get it started down one of the many wicked slopes onWinged Foot's greens.
“Yeah, 65 is fun no matter where you play, especially at Winged Foot,” Thomas said. “I was in a really good frame of mind, and Iwas focused. I just was sticking tomy routine and playing every shot, as opposed to getting ahead of myself. It's one of those rounds where ... next thing youknow, youmake the putt on 18, you're done for the day.”
Reed had one of two aces on the seventh hole, both with a delayed celebration because no spectators are allowed.
“It would've been nuts. Up here in New York, the fans are amazing,” he said. “It's unfortunate the fansweren't here.”