PINEHURST, North Carolina, (Reuters) – Germany’s Martin Kaymer stunningly birdied four of his last nine holes in the toughest conditions of the day to seize a three-shot lead in the U.S. Open first round at Pinehurst Resort yesterday.
Seeking a second major title after clinching his first in the 2010 PGA Championship, Kaymer produced sizzling form on a hot and sunny afternoon as he fired a five-under-par 65 on Pinehurst’s fabled No. 2 Course.
Out in one-under 34, the 29-year-old German stormed home with birdies at the 10th, 14th, 16th and 17th on a layout becoming increasingly firm and fast to take control of the second of the season’s four majors.
Former champion Graeme McDowell, without playing at his best, delivered a consummate display of course management to card a 68 during the morning and ended the round level with American Kevin Na and burly Zimbabwean Brendon de Jonge.
McDowell, who claimed his only major title in the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, was delighted with his start.
“I played it very conservatively,” the Northern Irishman told reporters after carefully negotiating Pinehurst’s No. 2 Course where danger lurked on virtually every hole because of the challenging turtle-back greens.
“I positioned the ball great off the tee. I drove it really well all day. I generally kept the ball exactly where I wanted to going into the flags, short of a lot of the greens on the correct side of most of the flags.
“It wasn’t my best ball-striking display this morning, but you don’t have to strike it amazing around here, you just have to position the ball correctly at all times,” said the 34-year-old from Portrush.
BACK-TO-BACK WINS
Defending champion Justin Rose of England, aiming to become the event’s first back-to-back winner in 25 years, launched his title defence with a 72.
“I hit every tee shot just as I wanted to,” Rose said after mixing three birdies with five bogeys and totalling 30 putts. “I’m swinging it much better than I have been. I played the par-threes really well.
“Just my short game was very poor. I need to work on that.”
Rose played in a high-profile trio that attracted the biggest galleries of the day and included British Open champion Phil Mickelson, who has suffered more U.S. Open heartache than any other player.
The American left-hander, who has been a runner-up in his national championship a record six times, ground out an even-par 70 in the opening round to finish five strokes off the pace. “I drove it great,” said five-times major winner Mickelson, whose most recent runner-up finish at the U.S. Open came last year at Merion. “Every time I hit driver, I hit the fairway.
“I putted OK but didn’t make the ones you need to make, the 15, 20-footers, you need to have a good round.”
Northern Irish world number six Rory McIlroy, the 2011 U.S. Open champion at Congressional where he blew away the field with a stunning eight-stroke victory, opened with a 71.
World number one Adam Scott, grouped with fellow Masters champions Bubba Watson and Charl Schwartzel in one of the most eye-catching trios of the day, struggled to a 73 that included four bogeys and a lone birdie.
Australian Scott, bidding for his second major title after clinching his first at last year’s Masters, was among the pre-tournament favourites at Pinehurst after winning four times in his last 17 starts worldwide.
