Softer Pinehurst No. 2 Yields Good Scores in Round 1 of U.S. Open; Kaymer Sets Pace

By: Jeff Shelley


After a broiling Wednesday that saw temperatures soar into the 90s, the USGA watered the domed greens at Pinehurst's No. 2 Course overnight in anticipation of another a hot day for the opening round of the 114th U.S. Open.

The mercury did rise again Thursday, as expected. But the softer conditions gave the contestants opportunities - particularly in the morning - to hit shots close to the pins on the slick Donald Ross-designed greens and get them to stick.

As the day wore on and the sun continued to beat down, the historic par-70 layout regained its bite as the moisture disappeared and the scoring became less amenable. But the drier course didn't faze Martin Kaymer as the 29-year-old from Dusseldorf, Germany, fired a sterling 5-under 65 for a three-stroke first-round lead.

The 2010 PGA champion and former No. 1, who won the Players Championship last month, carded six birdies and a lone bogey. "I hit the ball very solid and didn't make many mistakes," Kaymer said at greenside.

"When you win the Players, you've won a major, at least to my thinking," he noted in response to gaining confidence from his victory at TPC Sawgrass against the world's best.

"It's always nice if you don't think much about technique, and just focus on the main things, the yardages, and where you want to pitch the ball, and not thinking too much if you hit it not too good where would it end up," he later told the media. "It's pretty much very straightforward thinking, very positive thinking.

"So I see things very positive right now. There's not much negative. And I really enjoy playing golf that way."

As for the conditions of the course, Kaymer told reporters he expected a much more difficult test than what was found Thursday. "I got asked (Wednesday) what score I would take for the whole week and I said 8-over par, so hopefully that's not going to happen. Because the golf course, I thought, played a little more difficult on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday; they must have put a little more water on the greens last night," said Kaymer, whose birdies on Nos. 14, 16 and 17 and a clutch par putt on the 18th has him brimming with confidence heading into Friday's second round.

"I thought it was very playable. And even the afternoon, we could stop the ball fairly well on the greens. So I just didn't make many mistakes. I hit a lot of good golf shots. Finally I could make some putts on 15, 16 and 17. And on 18. So it was a really nice way to finish."

Three back after 68s are Kevin Na, Graeme McDowell, Brendon de Jonge and 49-year-old Fran Quinn, a New Englander who made it into the championship via sectional qualifying in Purchase, N.Y. Quinn's 15-year-old son, Owen, is serving as his caddie this week.

Na, who has five top-10 finishes in 17 starts this season, also referenced the difference in the No. 2 Course from the practice rounds, when the venue played U.S. Open-style hard and fast.

"The golf course was a lot softer than I was expecting it," said Na. "I think they watered it a little bit. With the overcast this morning, it was a little soft and the greens were not as quick as I expected. You think that's why I was able to shoot a couple under. I'm not saying it was playing easy, it wasn't playing as difficult as I was expecting it, but I know for sure that Friday, Saturday, Sunday, it's going to play harder and harder. And by Sunday, I know even-par's going to be a good score."

McDowell concurred with Na. "We got lucky this morning," admitted the Northern Irishman and 2010 U.S. Open champion at Pebble Beach. "In practice yesterday the golf course seemed to be very firm. It seemed to be kind of a weekend set up. I guess the USGA were really relying on some rain last night, which didn't come. I'm assuming they put some water on this place this morning. And we were able to take advantage of that a little bit early on, and actually think about getting at some of those flags."

Friday's temperatures are forecast to be in the high-80s, with overnight rain and thunderstorms. The weekend calls for cloudy but continued warm conditions Saturday, with a 40 percent chance of rain Sunday.

Opening with 69s were Brandt Snedeker, Henrik Stenson, Matt Kuchar, Brendon Todd, Jordan Spieth, Hideki Matsuyama, Dustin Johnson, Harris English, Keegan Bradley and Francesco Molinari. Matsuyama won the Memorial two weeks ago.

Spieth was another player with an early start time and the 20-year-old from Dallas took advantage. "We had ideal scoring conditions, if that's a thing, at a U.S. Open," said the reigning PGA Tour Rookie of the Year. "Perfect weather this morning, cloud cover, it wasn't windy at all. The greens were more receptive than yesterday, I thought. I played in the afternoon yesterday; that's probably why.

"Got off to a good start. Couple under through four or five holes, and I played 15 through 18 even, which I think would be a goal for the week. And then I (finish with a) bogey, birdie, and then a tough three-putt on my last hole for a bogey. But all in all, par at a U.S. Open, I'll take for all four rounds."

Phil Mickelson, a five-time major champion who's only missing a U.S. Open in his Grand Slam file, was among a big group opening with 70s. Among those also carding even-par scores were Jimmy Walker, a three-time winner this year, 12-time Tour winner Steve Stricker, and 2011 Masters' champion Charl Schwartzel.

The 43-year-old Mickelson learned after his round that a New York Times report Wednesday night revealed he's been cleared of an insider-trading probe that also involves billionaire Carl Icahn and Las Vegas gambler-golf course owner Billy Walters.

But Mickelson's focus - briefly telling reporters about the federal probe, "I'll continue to say, I haven't done anything wrong" - was on Pinehurst No. 2. He also lamented some missed opportunities Thursday. "I didn't hurt myself any, I had a chance to get to 3-, 4-, 5-under today, had some makeable opportunities," he said. "But I didn't throw anything away."

If Mickelson can pull it off this week, he'll be in elite company, joining Bobby Jones, Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as the only players to win career Grand Slams.

Also shooting 70 was Rickie Fowler, who wore plus-fours in tribute to the late Payne Stewart, who notched his most memorable win in the 1999 U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2. "It's going to be fun remembering what [Stewart] did around this place!" Fowler tweeted before his round. The 25-year-old Fowler plans to return to his usual still-colorful golf garb Friday.

Two-time major champion Rory McIlroy carded a 1-over 71. The 25-year-old Northern Irishman won the 2011 U.S. Open by a record-setting eight strokes at Congressional, then decimated the field in the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island the following year by the same margin.

Despite being six strokes behind Kaymer, McIlroy was happy with his outing. "The golf course was set up pretty scoreable today, I felt. There was a few pin positions on the front of the greens. There was still some moisture in the greens. A few tees were moved up. What we saw this morning out there on that golf course is probably the most scoreable it's going to be all week.

"I played well. I hit 14 greens," added McIlroy, currently ranked sixth in the world. "I think I only missed one fairway. I struggled with my speed on the greens. That was the only thing that really let me down today. But I played to my spots, stayed patient and was rewarded with a nice birdie at the last. It was a grind out there at times, but I think to shoot plus-1 is a solid day."

Defending champion Justin Rose posted a 72. The 33-year-old Englishman, starting on the 10th tee with playing partners Mickelson and 2013 U.S. Amateur champion Matthew Fitzpatrick of England, got off to a rough start with four bogeys on his front nine. But Rose carded three birdies through five holes on his home half before a bogey on his 17th hole (the eighth).

Rose said he was fine off the tee but had troubles with his short game Thursday. "I drove the ball really, really well today," said Rose, who won last year at Merion by two shots over Mickelson and Jason Day. "Except the eighth hole I hit every tee shot just as I wanted it to. Swinging it much better than I have been. I played the par-3s really well.

"Just my short game was very poor. Just work on that. If I hit it like I have the last few days and just improve - putting felt comfortable, actually, just more the pitching and chipping, which you're going to have to at least four or five times a day. Get that sharp and I feel confident for the rest of the week."

Fitzpatrick and Australia's Oliver Goss were the low amateurs after 18 holes with 71s.

Further down the leaderboard are 2003 U.S. Open champion Jim Furyk and two-time U.S. Open winner Retief Goosen, who each recorded a 73, two-time major winner Angel Cabrera (74), Lee Westwood (75), 2014 Masters champion Bubba Watson (76), Luke Donald (77) and 2009 U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover (79).

For all the scores, visit http://www.usopen.com/en_US/scoring/index.html.