BROOKLINE, Mass. – After day one in Boston, many spectators were heard mumbling, “who’s that?” as five of the top-six leaders on the U.S. Open scoreboard are ranked outside the world top 100, including three beyond the top 250.
Only world No.3 Rory McIlroy saved what could possibly be the most disappointing day-one leaderboard at a major.
The leader? World No.105 Adam Hadwin opened with a 66 to sit atop the board on 4-under par. The Canadian’s scorecard featured two bogeys against six birdies, highlighted by five gains in a six-hole stretch (Nos. 4-9), to secure the first-round marquee position.
“I mean, not much better of a start to a U.S. Open I don’t think that you can ask for,” said Hadwin. “I did a lot of good things. Got a nice run there midway through the front. I do think there’s a few more scorable holes as long as you hit good quality golf shots there.
“Then I kind of just held down the fort there the last little bit. Some key up-and-downs. Made a nice one from the fringe on 13. Just doing a lot of good things.
“I hit the ball really well the last four holes, which I was really pleased with. I kind of found a little something there at the end.
“We’ll try again tomorrow.”
A logjam of five players were tied for the silver on 3-under par, headlined by McIlroy, who offset one bogey with four birdies, en route to a day-one 67.
“Yeah, a really solid start,” said McIlroy, who is in search of his first major title in eight years. “You’d take 67 around this golf course any day. Even though I’m standing up here slightly frustrated that I bogeyed the last, it’s a great start to the tournament.
“I felt like I did most things well today. I certainly putted well, and I hit the ball in the right spots, and I hit a lot of greens, gave myself plenty of chances. Just basically did everything that you need to do at a U.S. Open.
“Yeah, overall really pleased about the start. That’s now two majors in a row that I’ve started well, and hopefully just keep going from here.”
Joining the Northen Irishman in the two spot was the (not exactly) fearsome foursome of world No.130 Joel Dahmen, No.296 Matthys Daffue, No.445 Callum Tarren and No. 592 David Lingmerth.
Justin Rose, Dustin Johnson and Matt Fitzpatrick headlined a group of seven players one further back on 2-under par 68.
Fitzpatrick, who won the U.S. Amateur at The Country Club, seemingly picked up where he left off nine years ago, en route to a scorecard featuring five birdies against three bogeys.
“One-hundred-percent. Since I got here Monday, it’s been the same deal,” said Fitzpatrick, about the Boston vibe.
“I love being in Boston, and everyone in the crowd has made me feel very welcome, as well, from when I was here nine years ago, so it definitely feels in a strange way a little bit more like a home game, which is obviously nice, but, yeah, definitely I notice that support.”
Johnson, the 2016 U.S. Open winner, finished with two bogeys offset by four birdies, while Rose, the 2013 champ, signed for a wild card, including just one par on the out nine.
Others in the T7 group were Hayden Buckley, Matthew NeSmith, Brian Harman and Aaron Wise.
Twelve more players were one further back on 1-under par 69, headlined by pre-tournament favorites Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa and Will Zalatoris.
Viktor Hovland, Patrick Reed, Daniel Berger, Hideki Matsuyama, Xander Schauffele and Scottie Scheffler were among sixteen more players on even-par 70.
Marquee names who finished over par on day one included Bryson DeChambeau (+1), Sam Burns (+1), Joaquin Niemann (+1), Shane Lowry (+2), Jordan Spieth (+2), Patrick Cantlay (+2), Cam Smith (+2), Brooks Koepka (+3), Billy Horschel (+3), Tony Finau (+3), Sergio Garcia (+4) and Phil Mickelson (+7).
U.S. Open Leaderboard
Round 1: Top 10
1. Adam Hadwin -4 (66)
2. Joel Dahmen -3 (67)
2. Matthys Daffue -3 (67)
2. Callum Tarren -3 (67)
2. David Lingmerth -3 (67)
2. Rory McIlroy -3 (67)
7. Justin Rose -2 (68)
7. Dustin Johnson -2 (68)
7. Matt Fitzpatrick -2 (68)
7. Hayden Buckley -2 (68)
7. Matthew NeSmith -2 (68)
7. Brian Harman -2 (68)
7. Aaron Wise -2 (68)
Round 1: Notables
14. Max Homa -1 (69)
14. Will Zalatoris -1 (69)
14. Justin Thomas -1 (69)
14. Jon Rahm -1 (69)
14. Collin Morikawa -1 (69)
26. Patrick Reed E (70)
26. Daniel Berger E (70)
26. Hideki Matsuyama E (70)
26. Xander Schauffele E (70)
26. Viktor Hovland E (70)
26. Keegan Bradley E (70)
42. Bryson DeChambeau +1 (71)
42. Sam Burns +1 (71)
42. Joaquin Niemann +1 (71)
57. Shane Lowry +2 (72)
57. Jordan Spieth +2 (72)
57. Patrick Cantlay +2 (72)
57. Cam Smith +2 (72)
79. Brooks Koepka +3 (73)
79. Billy Horschel +3 (73)
79. Tony Finau +3 (73)
79. Brooks Koepka +3 (73)
102. Sergio Garcia +4 (74)
102. Jim Furyk +4 (74)
136. Louis Oosthuizen +4 (74)
144. Phil Mickelson +8 (78)
Video: Round-1’s Top Shots
The best shots from an exciting first round of the 2022 U.S. Open at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass.
Quotables
“No. No. DJ is still DJ. I really enjoy playing with DJ. He is a great guy, and he compliments you on good shots, which is more than some players do, and, yeah, in my opinion he is a down-to-earth guy.”
– Matt Fitzpatrick, when media fished for a headline
“100% Justin Leonard vibe. I was reading the putt, and I was, like, this is the putt Justin Leonard had. I hit it, and it’s literally — I know he had the flag out or the caddie had tended it anyway, but it went in with Justin Leonard’s speed. I don’t know if the camera stayed on me long enough, but I kind of had my hands in the air.
“I was going to run for a little longer like he did. I just thought, you know what, I’m just going to — it’s a little nod to Justin, but yeah, just trying to expel some European memories there.”
– Justin Rose, on long-bomb putt
“Yes. Yeah, yeah. Somebody — I’m pretty sure I know who it was. I recognized the two kids that were running the opposite way with a smile on their face. (Laughing). I am 100% sure I saw the two kids that stole it.”
– Jon Rahm, on stolen ball
