Rory McIlroy, looking to snap a 10-year major drought, has capped a flawless outing with a birdie to join Patrick Cantlay on top of the first-round US Open leaderboard at Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina.
But the Australian contingent struggled to make an impression, with only Adam Scott shooting par with a round of 70.
Scott’s countrymen Jason Day and Cameron Smith finished 1-over-par.
Two shots further behind was Min Woo Lee, whose 3-over 73 included a double-bogey at the par-four eighth hole.
World number three McIlroy, in hot pursuit of an elusive fifth major title, closed his bogey-free round with a 19-foot birdie putt for a 5-under 65 that left him and American Cantlay one shot clear of Swedish sensation Ludvig Åberg.
Bryson DeChambeau, who was one shot shy of forcing a play-off with Xander Schauffele at last month’s PGA Championship, was a further shot back with Frenchman Matthieu Pavon, who became the first player with two eagles in a US Open round at Pinehurst.
McIlroy showcased incredible distance control and a silky touch with his short game and took advantage of both par-fives, including at the fifth hole where he chipped in from 66 feet with his third shot.
The Northern Irishman got to within a shot of Cantlay with a birdie from 11 feet at the par-four 16th hole, nearly drew level at the 17th (par-three) where his birdie putt stopped just short of the hole, before cashing in at the 18th (par-four).
“I felt like I controlled most aspects of my game really well,” said McIlroy, whose last major triumph came at the PGA Championship in 2014.
“I controlled myself, my mind and was very disciplined when I needed to be.”
Defending champion Wyndham Clark, eager to jump-start a season in which he has missed the cut at the first two majors, went out late and opened with a 3-over 73.
Tiger Woods, competing in only his fourth event of the year and who accepted a special exemption to play in the US Open, enjoyed an encouraging start but his putter abandoned him as the round wore on and he finished with a 4-over 74.
The opening round of the US Open was played under sunny skies and on a layout that will test the mental discipline of the players all week, given its tricky greens and fairways that bleed into sandy waste areas full of wire grass.
Reuters/AAP
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