Oakmont, Pa. — J.J. Spaun, relatively inexperienced in U.S. Opens and encountering the challenging Oakmont course for the first time, approached Thursday’s opening round with an open mindset. To his delight, he ended the day with a bogey-free scorecard and a one-stroke lead at a tournament known for its harsh conditions.
Scottie Scheffler, who recently triumphed at the Memorial with minimal errors, found himself struggling early on. His opening round of 73 was his highest in any U.S. Open, falling four shots shy of his debut effort at Oakmont when he was just 19.
Patrick Reed made headlines by achieving the first albatross seen at the U.S. Open in over a decade, sinking a 3-wood from 286 yards on the par-5 fourth hole. His day, though, ended with a disappointing triple bogey.
Bryson DeChambeau faced difficulties from the rough on the par-5 12th, needing four strokes from just 39 yards to reach the green. Si Woo Kim finished with a 68, confessing his surprise at the result. “Honestly, I don’t even know what I’m doing on the course,” Kim admitted. “This course feels too difficult for me.”
Spaun remained composed throughout his round, amassing 10 consecutive pars for a 4-under 66, matching the lowest opening round score for U.S. Opens held at Oakmont. Andrew Landry set the benchmark in 2016, and like him, Spaun’s success was greatly aided by strong putting. He made five crucial par putts ranging from 7 to 16 feet combined with four birdies that kept his confidence high. “I wasn’t expecting a bogey-free 4-under round. Never having played here probably helped me maintain lower expectations,” Spaun reflected.
Indeed, Oakmont upheld its formidable reputation with an average score of about 74.6, despite rain-softened conditions and mild winds. The difficult rough was a significant test, notably for Rory McIlroy, who opted not to address reporters after a challenging round that included an improbable bogey from a 30-foot putt on the fourth hole, resulting in a score of 74.
The start of the day was as eventful as the finish, with Maxwell Moldovan holing out for an eagle on the opening hole. Meanwhile, Tony Finau faced unexpected challenges when his ball ricocheted off a sprinkler after his approach shot, yet he managed to save par.
Even with the rigor of the course, only 10 players managed to break par at the end of a grueling 13-hour day, one less than the tally in 2016. Scheffler, a frontrunner and world No. 1, endured mishaps after a promising birdie early on and spent most of the day battling back.
Spaun began his round by chipping in from just outside the 10th green, maintaining a steady performance that surprised onlookers and even himself. Ranked 25th globally after a playoff loss to McIlroy at The Players Championship, Spaun bypassed the usual qualifying rounds for this event.
Surprises of the day included Thriston Lawrence from South Africa, who managed six birdies for a round of 67, and Brooks Koepka’s strong showing reminiscent of his peak form, finishing with two birdies for a 68.
“This is the best round I’ve put together in a while,” Koepka commented, acknowledging it was late in the season. Another player performing under pressure was Jon Rahm, who progressed steadily through his round of 69, expressing astonishment at his ability to finish under par.
The tournament’s unpredictability didn’t spare Spaun, who credited his successful putting for his round. “Today was probably one of my best putting days all year,” he noted, highlighting the importance of momentum. In only his second U.S. Open and ninth major overall, Spaun has quickly adapted to the demands at this elite level.
The relentless challenge of Oakmont lies ahead for Spaun and his competition, with three intense rounds remaining.