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Fowler surges clear as big-hitters flop

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ERIN, United States: Rickie Fowler produced a record-equalling low-scoring round to take a one-shot lead at the US Open on Thursday as the big-hitters failed to fire.


Fowler, the world number nine from California, revelled in benign conditions at Erin Hills Golf Course to reel off seven birdies and 11 pars in a superb 65.


The 28-year-old’s seven-under-par total matched the lowest to par score ever carded in the opening round of a US Open, a record shared by Jack Nicklaus and Tom Weiskopf since the 1980 tournament.


With the picturesque par-72 course set up at a monstrous 7,845 yards, Erin Hills had been expected to live up to the US Open’s billing of being the toughest test in golf.


But heavy rain, which has softened greens and made fairways more forgiving, levelled the playing field dramatically.


Fowler wasted no time in exploiting the conditions after teeing off on the 10th, rattling off four quick birdies to be four under.


Three more birdies on his inward nine took him to seven under and a piece of US Open history.


“It’s cool, but it’s just the first round,” Fowler said afterwards.


“It is always cool to be part of some sort of history in golf. But I’d rather be remembered for something that’s done on Sunday.”


Big-hitters flop


Fowler leads by one shot from England’s Paul Casey and lowly-ranked American Xander Schauffele.


Casey carded an eagle and six birdies for a six-under-par 66, while Schauffele, the 23-year-old world number 352 also carded a 66.


Yet while Fowler and Casey thrived, defending champion Dustin Johnson, world number two Rory McIlroy and world number three Jason Day — three big-hitters who had been tipped to thrive — all had a day to forget.


Johnson blamed an errant putter for his three-over-par 75, which included a double-bogey and two bogeys. “I just didn’t putt very well,” Johnson said. “I missed a lot of really good opportunities. That was the big key for me.”


McIlroy, who is returning to action after a rib injury, opened with an early eagle but was unable to maintain his momentum and finished with a six-over-par 78.


“Just timing was a little bit off, and that was it,” McIlroy said.


“Just really bad tee shots which led to obviously not being able to give myself many looks for birdies.”


Day meanwhile was left sliding towards an early exit after a calamitous seven-over-par 79.


With Johnson, McIlroy and Day misfiring, it was left to a clutch of unheralded players to dominate the upper reaches of the leaderboard.


Three players — Brian Harman, Tommy Fleetwood and Brooks Koepka — were in the clubhouse on five under, two back from Fowler.


Sergio lurking


Masters champion Sergio Garcia meanwhile was lurking five off the lead after a two-under-par 70. Garcia carded an eagle, three birdies and three bogeys in a roller coaster round.


Former US Open champion Ernie Els chose the 20th anniversary of his last victory in the tournament to remind fans that he is not quite ready to be put out to grass.


The 47-year-old South African posted a two-under-par 71. His round would have been better had it not been for two bogeys in his closing holes.


“All in all, I’ve got to be happy,” Els said. “You take a two-under-par in the first round in the US Open, you’re right there.”


Thursday’s opening round began with drama off the course after a blimp hovering near the venue crashed.


Players and fans looked on in disbelief as the aircraft fell from the sky near the venue.


The pilot was later being treated for burns, local law enforcement officials said. — AFP


US Open scores (Par 72; USA unless stated, a-denotes amateur)


65 - Rickie Fowler


66 - Paul Casey (ENG), Xander Schauffele


67 - Brian Harman, Tommy Fleetwood (ENG), Brooks Koepka


68 - Patrick Reed, Kevin Na, Marc Leishman (AUS), Adam Hadwin (CAN)


69 - Jamie Lovemark, J B Holmes, Lee Westwood (ENG), Andrew Johnston (ENG), Kim Si-Woo (KOR), Scottie Scheffler-a, Jim Furyk, Bernd Wiesberger (AUT)


70 - Charley Hoffman, Brandt Snedeker, Ernie Els (RSA), Jack Maguire, Brandon Stone (USA), William McGirt, Sergio Garcia (ESP), Shane Lowry (IRL), Matthew Fitzpatrick (ENG), Jim Furyk, Cameron Champ-a, Derek Barron


71 - Kevin Dougherty, Davis Love IV, Thomas Aiken (RSA), Zach Johnson, Angel Cabrera (ARG), Tyson Alexander, Stephan Jaeger (GER), Brendan Steele, Russell Henley, Harris English, Charl Schwartzel, An Byeong-Hun (KOR), Trey Mullinax, Ryan Brehm, Jonathan Randolph


72 - Martin Kaymer (GER), Branden Grace (RSA), Martin Laird (SCO), Gary Woodland, Rafa Cabrera Bello (ESP), Hideto Tanihara (JPN), Yusaku Miyazato (JPN), Eddie Pepperell (ENG), Yuta Ikeda (JPN), George Coetzee (RSA), Keegan Bradley, Adam Scott (AUS), Bill Haas, Scott Piercy, Justin Rose (ENG), Roberto Diaz (MEX)


73 - Jordan Niebrugge, Kim Meen-Whee (KOR), Aaron Rai (ENG), David Lingmerth (SWE), Michael Putnam, Alex Noren (SWE), Bud Cauley, Russel Knox (SCO), Jordan Spieth, Daniel Miernicki, Tyler Light, Chris Wood (ENG), Satoshi Kodaira (JPN), Daniel Summerhays, Richie Ramsay (SCO), CT Pan (TPE), Justin Thomas, Steve Stricker, Maverick McNealy-a, Mason Andersen-a, Alex Smalley-a


74 - Talor Gooch, Ted Potter Jr, Andres Romero (ARG), Li Haotong (CHN), Bradley Dredge (WAL), Hideki Matsuyama (JPN), Kevin Kisner, Matt Kuchar, Francesco Molinari (ITA), Webb Simpson, Lucas Glover, Joaquin Niemann-a (CHI), Chan Kim, Troy Merritt, Bryson DeChambeau, Henrik Stenson (SWE), Louis Oosthuizen (RSA), Peter Uihlein, Stewart Cink, Kevin Chappell,


75 - Brice Garnett, Paul Dunne (IRL), Chez Reavie, Jason Kokrak, Ross Fisher (ENG), Scott Gregory-a (ENG), Dustin Johnson, Chris Crawford-a, Wade Ormsby (AUS), Oliver Bekker (RSA), Nick Flanagan (AUS), Bubba Watson


76 - Shugo Imahira (JPN), Matt Wallace (ENG), Jason Dufner, Wang Jeung-Hun (KOR), Tyrrell Hatton (ENG), Thomas Pieters (BEL), Jon Rahm (ESP), Graeme McDowell (NIR), Max Greyserman, Coren Conners (CAN), Kyle Thompson, Sean O’Hair, Pat Perez, Wesley Bryan, Roberto Castro, Emiliano Grillo (ARG), Sam Ryder


77 - Daniel Chopra (SWE), Stewart Hagestad-a, Gene Sauers, Joel Stalter (FRA), Matthew Campbell, Sahith Theegala-a, Ben Kohles, Gregory Bourdy (FRA), Jhonattan Vegas (VEN), Alexander Levy, Jimmy Walker, Andy Pope


78 - Ryan Palmer, JT Poston, Scott Harvey-a, Brad Dalke, Daniel Berger, Rory McIlroy (NIR), John Oda-a, Roman Robledo


79 - Billy Horschel, Jason Day (AUS)


81 - Danny Willett (ENG), Walker Lee-a, Brian Stuard


83 - Garrett Osborn


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