The first round of the US Open at the infamously-difficult Pinehurst No. 2 was tough going for the six-man Australian contingent, though veteran Adam Scott is leading the way with a fine opening round.
Pinehurst is renowned for its tricky wasteland rough, characterised by sand and native wire grass, as well as its domed greens which make approach shots and putting especially crucial.
And 43-year-old Scott used every bit of his experience – this is his 92nd successive major tournament appearance – as he battled around the tough North Carolina course.
Scott made a very solid start to his day as he made six straight pars on the back nine to lead the Australian contingent early.
Scott then ran into trouble with back-to-back bogeys on 16 and 17, then recovered with a pair of birdies on the par-four 18th and the 528-yard par-four fourth hole.
That brought him back even for the round with five still to play.
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He is one shot ahead of Cameron Smith, who carded a one-over 71 punctuated in style by rolling in a 22-footer on the par-three ninth. It was his second birdie of the day to go with three bogeys.
Meanwhile, Jason Day had a tough start to his opening round with three bogeys inside the first six holes. He turned things around on the back nine with two early birdies, including a perfectly-weighted 22-foot putt on the 12th. He dropped one on the 14th but pulled that shot back on the 16th with a stellar 46-foot birdie putt.
That saw him finish the day with a one-over 71.
Further back in the field is Min Woo Lee, who carded a three-over 73 after a tricky day.
Things started poorly with a bogey on the long par-four second hole. He turned it around with a birdie on the third, but that was the only time he’d convert a birdie chance for the rest of the round. A nightmare double bogey on the eighth came when he missed the fairway right on his first two shots. He dropped another shot on the par-three 15th.
Qualifier Jason Scrivener was one shot further back with a four-over 74, his round featuring three bogeys on the front nine and another two on the back nine. The shining light was a birdie on the tenth, a 619-yard par five.
Meanwhile, Cam Davis had a rough start to the day with a double bogey in his first hole of the day – the tenth. A bogey on 11 meant he dropped three shots in his opening two holes, and he struggled to recover from there. He finished with five bogeys and that double to card a seven-over 77.
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