J.J. Spaun takes clubhouse lead at US Open, McIlroy and DeChambeau struggle

J.J. Spaun seized command early in Thursday’s first round of the US Open, defying Oakmont’s fearsome reputation by firing a bogey-free four-under par 66 for a one-stroke lead. The 34-year-old American fired his lowest round in nine major starts and matched the lowest first round of any US Open at Oakmont, the 66 by American Andrew Landry in 2016. “I knew it was going to be tough,” Spaun said. “I just tried to grind it out.” Spaun started on the back nine, birdied four of his first eight holes, then parred his way to the clubhouse for only the eighth bogey-free US Open round at Oakmont, hosting for a record 10th time. “This is probably one of my better putting rounds all season,” Spaun said. In second place on three under after back-to-back birdies at six and seven, was South Korean Kim Si-woo through 16 holes. World number one Scottie Scheffler was set to begin his first round only minutes after Spaun reached the clubhouse, the three-time major winner favoured even as Oakmont, while vulnerable, had danger lurking on every hole. World number two Rory McIlroy was two-over after 16 holes with fellow major winners Wyndham Clark and Gary Woodland.
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