Johnson,
Stenson share Open lead, Tiger cards 80
Send a link to a friend
[June 19, 2015]
By Mark Lamport-Stokes
UNIVERSITY PLACE, Washington (Reuters) -
Dustin Johnson and Henrik Stenson set the first-round pace at the U.S.
Open on Thursday on a day of remarkable highs and lows as Tiger Woods
shot an 80, his fourth-worst score as a professional.
|
American Johnson and Swede Stenson fired matching five-under-par 65s
on a firm and fast-running Chambers Bay layout while Phil Mickelson
made an encouraging start with a 69.
The long-hitting Johnson piled up six birdies and a lone bogey to
finish level with Stenson, who birdied four of his last five holes
at the British Open-style venue in the year's second major, being
played for the first time in the Pacific Northwest.
They were one stroke ahead of American Patrick Reed, while Americans
Matt Kuchar, Ben Martin and amateur Brian Campbell trailed by two.
"I hit the ball really well ... had a lot of good looks at birdie
all day," Johnson, who like Stenson is seeking a first major title,
told reporters.
"It's firm but you could control your golf ball, for sure. Today I
controlled my ball very well. The confidence is definitely there. I
feel really good about where I'm at and going into tomorrow."
Stenson joined Johnson at the top after draining a 20-foot birdie
putt on the 18th for a homeward nine of four-under 31.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2015/Jun/19/images/ads/current/cca_laptop-sda021709.png)
"It was a good day," said the Swedish world number six. "I was
striking it nicely, which led to a lot of birdie opportunities for
me.
"I felt like I was really keeping my patience and a level head out
there. I hit some beautiful putts and managed to slip a few in
there. It was a good way to finish the day."
Mickelson, who is yearning to complete a career grand slam of the
four majors by winning his first U.S. Open, was "very pleased" after
a round that included four birdies and three bogeys.
"I hit a lot of good shots today," Mickelson, a runner-up at the
U.S. Open a record six times, said. "I shot under par the first day
of the U.S. Open.
"The first round was the round I was going to be most nervous at,
getting started. You don't want to have to fight to come back all
the time. You want to get off to a solid start around par. I'm very
pleased with the way the round went."
STRUGGLED ON GREENS
It was an average morning for Northern Ireland's world number one
Rory McIlroy. Seeking his fifth major victory, he birdied his second
hole but never got into top gear as he struggled on the greens to
return a 72.
[to top of second column] |
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2015/Jun/19/images/ads/current/christian_village_lda_022015.png)
"I need to find a rhythm in my stroke over the next three days, work
a bit on the putting green," said McIlroy. "Hopefully it will be
better tomorrow."
Masters champion Jordan Spieth, who played in the more difficult
conditions of the afternoon as the course firmed up, was delighted
to open with a 68.
"It was a good solid day," said the 21-year-old Texan. "To shoot two
under at the U.S. Open, I would have signed for that before I
started."
Woods, who has been struggling for form and won the most recent of
his 14 major titles at the 2008 U.S. Open, endured a nightmare day
at Chambers Bay.
Wayward off the tee, the former world number one toiled away in
bunkers and thick fescue rough before ending his round with a bogey
at the par-five 18th where he cold-topped a three-wood from the
middle of the fairway.
"Not very happy, that's for sure," Woods said after racking up eight
bogeys, a triple at the par-four 14th and a solitary birdie.
"It was a tough day. Got off to a bad start ... and then just
couldn't quite get it turned around today.
"For some reason I just can't get the consistency that I'd like to
have out there."
(Editing by Greg Stutchbury)
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2015/Jun/19/images/ads/current/business_directory_filler.png)
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2015/Jun/19/images/ads/current/coyne_lda2_071113.png) |