Unheralded American J.J. Spaun seized the early advantage at the U.S. Open’s brutal Oakmont Country Club, shooting a flawless bogey-free 4-under-par 66—the only perfect round of the day and the eighth such score in U.S. Open history at Oakmont—to top the leaderboard by one shot after the opening round.
Spaun, playing only his second U.S. Open, carded four birdies with no missteps and then held steady with consecutive pars to close. A dramatic chip-in at the 10th hole on the back nine helped set the tone, and a string of precise par saves under pressure kept him ahead of the pack.
He now leads South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence (67) by one, with a trio—Kim Si-woo, Im Sung-jae, and five-time major winner Brooks Koepka—two shots back at 2-under.
Stars Falter on Oakmont’s Tough Terrain
- Scottie Scheffler, world number one and pre-tournament favorite, opened with 3-over‑par 73, hampered by poor drives and at least six bogeys.
- Bryson DeChambeau, the defending champion, also shot 73, beaten by Oakmont’s thick rough and slick greens .
- Rory McIlroy looked strong early but collapsed with a double bogey and finished with a 74.
Only ten players managed to break par on opening day, underscoring the course’s severity.
Standout Moments of the Day
- Patrick Reed holed a rare albatross on the par‑5 4th hole—just the fourth ever at the U.S. Open—but followed it with a triple bogey later, ending the day at even par.
- Brooks Koepka, whose recent form had been lacking, posted a strong 68, looking like his former dominant self .
Oakmont’s Relentless Test
Oakmont Country Club, a National Historic Landmark, is notorious for its relentless fairway rough, lightning-fast bentgrass greens, and punishing bunkers—including the famed “Church Pew Bunker.” Scoring averaged around 74.6, a testament to its punishing setup.
What’s Next
Spaun will carry a narrow one-stroke advantage into Round 2, but Oakmont’s punishing design means maintaining composure and strong scrambling will be vital. His flawless opening effort has put him in prime position, yet the course’s unforgiving layout ensures a tense leaderboard battle lies ahead.
