Oakmont, PA – Sometimes you don’t know what’s going to work.
Having never played a competitive round at Oakmont Country Club before, JJ Spaun finished the opening round on Thursday with a one-shot lead at South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence 4 under over one of the toughest US open tests with just 66 strokes.
Spaun was the only player on the first day to get more than a bogey.
“I had no previous history at Oakmont, but I came here without really knowing that we were only our second, even open, and even to us. “I don’t know if that freed me in any way, but I tried to take a kind of thing that the course gave me.”
Spaun became the first player in a bogeyless round at Oakmont since Dustin Johnson’s first round in 2016. Johnson won his first major championship and finished the tournament at 5 under.
On 18 holes on Thursday, Spaun crashed into eight of 14 fairways and 12 of 18 greens due to restrictions. But it was probably more impressive that he did in his second nine with a record score of 31 on his first eight birdies with his first nine birdies, and he scrambled for par and had three putts on Oakmont’s betrayal green, which was probably more impressive.
“It’s challenging with every aspect and variable of golf,” Span said of Oakmont. “You obviously have to grind it down when you’re out of position, and I did it really well today.”
Spaun’s putter was incandescent in the first round. The 34-year-old made a 90-foot putt and earned nearly four strokes on the field with his putter alone.
“Today was one of my best putting days I’ve had all year round, especially in the 12 feet or so, especially in the cap putt,” he said. “I like to convert those putts because it’s huge to get momentum and keep going with the round. That’s kind of what happens here.”
Others were not lucky.
World No. 1 Scotty Schaeffler made more bogeys in one round (5) than he made in the regular tournament, and had a worst start (73) at the US open.
Rory McIlroy had to hack out three times on the fourth hole to get back on the fairway. And he stopped a 30-foot putt for the most unlikely bogey. He shot a 74 and then chose not to speak of the fifth consecutive round of competition in the majors since his Masters victory.
After over 13 hours of golf, only 10 players were able to beat the par. That’s less than the 2016 opening round.
Among them was Brookskoepka, a five-time major champion who has not competed in the majors since winning the PGA Championship in 2023. However, he ended up muscularizing around Oakmont, limiting mistakes with two birdies for 68, and closing off the 68 birdies that left him in a group of Doo in South Korea, closing off Oakmont’s muscles.
The last time Spaun, ranked 25th in the world, was in the spotlight at the championship three months ago, when he went to his toe with McIlroy in the Monday playoffs on Monday, but failed to beat five major winners.
Spaun is playing well overall, with five top 15 finishes this season, but he’s away from the cut he missed at the monument. It’s safe to say no one expects to sew together a round like he did on Thursday.
“I was actually pretty nervous, but in reality I tried to take advantage of it – nerves, anxiety – to raise my focus and make me better,” Spaun said. “I like to feel uncomfortable. I’ve been feeling quite comfortable towards the end of the day, but there’s a long way to go.”
Even getting caught up in a fight with players, Spaun experiences is that it’s only difficult now and the pressure grows as he placed himself in the prime position at the golf course’s major championships.
Both he and his competitors know that.
“It’s Thursday,” said Xander Schaufele. “I told JJ, ‘Incredible rounds, great performances. I’m lucky for the rest of my journey.” ”
This report uses information from the Associated Press.