Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau faced challenges during his opening round of the US Open, carding a 3-over 73. Following last year’s thrilling victory, this time it was DeChambeau who stumbled, making some puzzling decisions on the course. A notable blunder occurred on the par-5 fourth hole. After sending his drive into the rough, his attempt to return the ball to an appropriate lie led to confusion. He picked up the ball without marking its original position, which resulted in intervention from a rules official. DeChambeau, acknowledging his mistake as “dumb,” eventually took the necessary drop to avoid a penalty, finishing the hole with a par.
His troubles continued on the 12th hole, another par-5, where after hitting the green with his second shot, he inexplicably sent his next shot over the green. Two additional strokes in the rough led to a bogey. Reflecting on his performance, he expressed frustration with his inability to read the greens correctly, remarking that he could have easily finished a few shots under par.
The US Open is famed for its difficulty, and the Oakmont course presented a stern test of golf. Other competitors, such as Gary Woodland, also faced rough patches, literally and figuratively, with challenging lies leading to poorer scores. Woodland’s promising start quickly unravelled, resulting in a back-nine of 6-over 41, concluding his round at 3-over 73.
Despite the setbacks, a few players thrived in the demanding conditions. JJ Spaun opened the tournament with an impressive 4-under 66, making a chip-in birdie on his first hole. Although he struggled to find fairways and greens consistently, his experience of feeling uncomfortable on the course allowed him to adapt and take the lead.
As the first day of the tournament unfolded, the theme remained clear: Oakmont is a brutal test for even the best golfers, challenging their skills and composure under pressure.