University Place (Washington, US), June 19 (IANS) Indian golfer Shiv Kapur carded two-over to be tied 52nd, while Anirban Lahiri found the going tough and scored five-over 75 to take joint 123rd spot after the first round of the 115th US Open here.
Shiv scored birdies on the ninth, 12th and 16th holes against bogeys on the third, fifth, sixth, 14th and 15th at the par-70 Chambers Bay here on Thursday. The 33-year-old shared the spot with 26 others, including world No.1 Rory McIlroy, defending champion Martin Kaymer and two-time champion Ernie Els and 2013 champion Justin Rose.
World No.338 Shiv, who qualified for his fourth Major after finishing second at the international sectional qualifier at the Walton Heath Golf Club in Surrey, England, played alongside amateur golfer Denny McCarthy (tied 42nd) and D.A Points (tied 98th).
Shiv’s compatriot Lahiri got a double bogey on the par-four sixth, bogeys on the seventh, ninth, 10th, 14th and 16th. The 27-year-old bogeyed the par-three 17th to score 75 and tie with five others, including last year’s runner-up and his round partner Ryan Moore.
In the meanwhile, both Dustin Johnson and Henrik Stenson carded five-under 65 on the 7,497-yard course to get a share of the one-shot lead over four-time PGA Tour winner Patrick Reed, who finished third with 66.
Matt Kuchar, Ben Martin and amateur Brian Campbell sit two strokes back at tied fourth place, while seven players, including reigning Masters champion Jordan Spieth and two-time US Open runner-up Jason Day, posted two-under 68s.
Phil Mickelson, seeking the Open title to complete the career Grand Slam, carded a 69.
Through 16 holes, US’ world No.7 Johnson flirted with the major championship single-round record of 63. A poor pitch at the par-five eighth, which led to a scrambling par, and an errant tee shot at the ninth cost Johnson a chance for a record-tying performance.
“My speed was pretty good all day,” Johnson said of his putting to the official website.
“All of them looked like they had a chance to go in, and when I missed I had a tap-in.”
Sweden’s world No.6 Stenson said: “It was a good day. I was striking it nicely, which led to a lot of birdie opportunities for me.
“I felt like I was really keeping my patience and a level head out there and very focused on the things that I wanted to be focused on. … I hit some beautiful putts and managed to slip a few in there,” said Stenson, who claimed the 2009 Players Championship, one of his 16 worldwide victories.
Three-time US Open champion Tiger Woods struggled to a 10-over 80, his worst round by three shots in 68 U.S. Open rounds. The 14-time Major winner was at the tied 152nd spot with only world No.9 Rickie Fowler and Rich Berberian Jr. behind the world No.195.
Woods, 39, has failed to break 80 in three of his 15 rounds this year after going 1,107 rounds previously with only one dreaded round of eight-over.
Twenty-five players posted under-par rounds, the third-most for an opening round in the championship’s history and the most for a par-70 course.
