US Open: Johnson moves into contention again, Day well down
Half of the 156-man field had been prevented from taking to the course at all on day one as thunderstorms swept through Pennsylvania.
Published : Jun 18, 2016 02:45 IST
Dustin Johnson once again moved into contention at a major as the first round of the U.S. Open belatedly came to a close at Oakmont.
Half of the 156-man field had been prevented from taking to the course at all on day one as thunderstorms swept through Pennsylvania. Surprise leader Andrew Landry completed a four-under 66 - the lowest opening round in U.S. Opens at Oakmont - when play resumed in calmer conditions on Friday, as he remained at the top of the leaderboard.
Yet Johnson, second to Jordan Spieth at Chambers Bay 12 months ago after three-putting the final hole, joined Lee Westwood at three under with the only bogey-free round of the day.
"It's a good way to start this championship," said Westwood of his round. "You don't really want to be shooting a lot over par and having to chase.
Big-hitting American Johnson, who boasts 11 top-10 finishes at majors, picked up shots on the sixth, 11th and 14th in his 67, on a course proving slightly less challenging than anticipated following so much heavy rain.
Another player to have regularly challenged in majors without tasting success, Sergio Garcia, shared fourth at two under alongside Scott Piercy - briefly a joint-leader with Landry - and Shane Lowry. A further five men were a shot further back, including Henrik Stenson, who bogeyed his last hole, Bubba Watson and amateur Scottie Scheffler, while Angel Cabrera - the champion at Oakmont in 2007 - was at level par.
Jordan Spieth's 72 left him six back, but Jason Day and Rory McIlroy both have major ground to make up after respective rounds of 76 and 77.
Johnson was among the earlier starters in round two, which was already under way as organisers looked to make up for lost time.