US Open 2016: Weather washes out day one at Oakmont

Jim Furyk, a runner-up at Oakmont in the 2007 U.S. Open, also was at 1 under with one hole remaining before play was halted by darkness.

Jordan Spieth showed a bit of frustration during his opening round at the US Open on Thursday, throwing his club after a seemingly ideal approach shot on the 17th hole rolled all the way across the green and trickled down into a bunker.

Landry warmed up by hitting about 50 putts, then finished his round with a 10-foot birdie for a 4-under 66, giving him a one-shot lead over Lee Westwood and Dustin Johnson.

When Miguel Tabuena tees off today for what surely will be the biggest challenge of his young golfing life, there will be no one to cheer him on, save perhaps close family members and friends who may have taken the trip to see how the Filipino star fares against the world’s best, in the world’s most demanding test, the US Open.

And with it, Andrew Landry made a bit of history.

“Arnold Palmer obviously has not played as big a role for me in Europe but I also learned from him to make my name legible whenever I sign autographs”, said the 21-year-old, who is already a double victor on the European Tour. If the lead stands after the second round is over, it would match the lowest 36-hole score in a U.S. Open at Oakmont.

The 28-year-old was three under par playing the final hole, one shot clear of Bubba Watson and Danny Lee, when the hooter went for the final time at 1551 ET on Friday.

After beginning his first round from the 10th, Westwood had followed a birdie on the 12th with a bogey on the 13th before holing out from 124 yards for an eagle on the par-four 14th. Johnson played 27 holes before making his only bogey in two rounds.

Phil Mickelson took inspiration from the unlikely source of Stephen Hawking as he began his third attempt to win the US Open and complete the career grand slam on Thursday.

The U.S. Open at Oakmont? “There’s no doubt I’d not brought my best form”, he said. “I feel like my preparation leading up to this tournament has been pretty good”.

“I wanted to get done so I could stay up late to watch that”, he said.

Sergio Garcia, Shane Lowry and Scott Piercy each shot 68. He was frustrated after a near-perfect approach shot on the 17th hole – his eighth hole of the day – rolled all the way across the green and trickled down into a bunker. It was a shocking start for Day, who was in danger of missing the cut with little time to regain his composure.

Andrew Landry had a much shorter day.

Mickelson has described this week’s venue Oakmont as “the hardest course we’ve ever played” and believes his chances of victory will be enhanced if the conditions become even more difficult.

Johnson missed only three fairways in the second round, and he has missed only five greens through two rounds. The previous best of 67 was set by Ben Hogan in 1953 and matched by Gary Player in 1973.

Scotland’s Russell Knox carded two bogeys and two birdies in an opening 70, but Masters champion Danny Willett struggled to a 75 and Rory McIlroy bogeyed his last three holes for a 77. They played in the same group and were a combined 18-over par. Willett and McIlroy each were 4 over, while Fowler was 6 over.

Rory McIlroy’s quest for a second U.S. Open title is off to a bumpy start. He shot 40 on the front nine for a 74.

The only suspense at the U.S. Open during another rain delay is whether it will cool off unheralded Andrew Landry.

Even without Tiger Woods in the field, the 116th U.S. Open is sure to be a very entertaining golf tournament.