Veteran Olin Browne, who had to shoot a 59 in qualifying to book his spot in the 105th US Open, found himself sharing the lead after the first round here on Thursday. The 46-year-old American, whose last tour victory was in 1999, carded a three-under 67 to tie for the lead with 42-year-old Rocco Mediate, coming back after struggling with injuries for the past two years.
But lurking one shot back was South African defending champion Retief Goosen, who carded a two-under 68. England's ailing Lee Westwood and American Brandt Jobe, who plied his trade in Japan for four years, also shot 68s.
Browne had five birdies and two bogeys in his round. Mediate was simply just happy to be playing.
Westwood surprised himself with his performance. He has been complaining of a chest problem and was unable to sleep Wednesday night.
Pre-championship favourite Tiger Woods shot a level par 70 in an up and down round. The 29-year-old was at one-under par early on in his round but back-to-back bogeys as he reached the turn saw him slip back. A single birdie coming home on the par five fourth brought him back to even.
Only two off the lead was England's Luke Donald. The 27-year-old is tipped as Europe's best chance to claim their first US Open victory since Tony Jacklin - 35 years ago.
Also on one-under par was 46-year-old former US Open champion Steve Jones, who won the 1996 championship, South Korea's K.J. Choi, Phil Mickelson and Japan's Toru Taniguchi.
Two-time champion Ernie Els finished with a one-over 71 along with Chris DiMarco and John Cook. England's Paul Casey had a nightmare first round in only his third US Open.
The 27-year-old has still to make the cut and looks likely to make it three missed cuts in a row. He reached the turn seven-over par and dropped more shots on the way home including a triple bogey at the par-three ninth, his 18th hole, to card a mind-numbing 15-over 85.
Only nine players managed to break par.
SCORES (USA unless noted):
67 - Olin Browne 35-32, Rocco Mediate 34-33
68 - Retief Goosen (RSA) 34-34, Lee Westwood (ENG) 35-33
69 - Steve Jones 34-35, Luke Donald (ENG) 33-36, K.J. Choi (KOR) 34-35, Phil Mickelson 33-36
70 - David Toms 35-35, Tiger Woods 34-36, Tommy Armour 33-37, Adam Scott (AUS) 34-36, Vijay Singh (FIJ) 35-35
71 - Ernie Els (RSA) 35-36, Shigeki Maruyama (JPN) 36-35, Bob Tway 37-34, John Cook 36-35, Peter Lonard (AUS) 35-36, Chris DiMarco 33-38, Jason Gore 36-35, Mark Hensby (AUS) 35-36, Angel Cabrera (ARG) 34-37, Stephen Ames (CAN) 35-36, Thomas Bjorn (DEN) 35-36, Michael Campbell (NZL) 36-35, Jim Furyk 35-36, Sergio Garcia (SPA) 36-35, Fred Couples 36-35
72 - Rory Sabbatini (RSA) 37-35, Jonathan Lomas (ENG) 36-36, Nick Dougherty (ENG) 35-37, Nick Price (ZIM) 34-38, Jeff Maggert 39-33, Peter Jacobsen 35-37, Steve Allan (AUS) 37-35, Paul Claxton 35-37, Richard Green (AUS) 35-37, Robert Allenby (AUS) 35-37, Colin Montgomerie (SCO) 38-34, Steve Flesch 36-36, Nick O'Hern (AUS) 35-37
73 - Corey Pavin 36-37, J.J. Henry 36-37, Michael Allen 35-38, Josh McCumber 35-38, Spencer Levin 36-37, Fred Funk 36-37, Stewart Cink 35-38, Ted Purdy 37-36
74 - Bill Glasson 39-35, Yong Eun-Yang (KOR) 35-39, Bernhard Langer (GER) 37-37, Tom Pernice 36-38, Graeme McDowell (NIR) 38-36, D.J. Brigman 40-34, John Mallinger 38-36, Rob Rashell 38-36, Keiichiro Fukabori (JPN) 35-39, Franklin Langham 37-37, Shingo Katayama (JPN) 36-38, John Daly 35-39, Carlos Franco (PAR) 37-37, Tim Herron 37-37, Lee Janzen 37-37, Steve Elkington (AUS) 37-37, Zach Johnson 35-39, David Howell (ENG) 35-39
75 - Thomas Levet (FRA) 38-37, John Rollins 35-40, Matt Kuchar 37-38, Ryan Moore 38-37, Todd Hamilton 38-37, Kenny Perry 37-38, Matthew Every 39-36, Eric Meichtry 37-38, Kyle Willman 35-40, Omar Uresti 38-37, Frank Lickliter 36-39, Robert Karlsson (SWE) 37-38, Mike Weir (CAN) 39-36, Trip Kuehne 37-38
76 - Len Mattiace 39-37, Justin Leonard 38-38, David Duval 37-39, Scott Verplank 41-35, Jerry Kelly 37-39, James Driscoll 37-39, Lee Rinker 37-39, Arron Oberholser 37-39, Michael Putnam 38-38, Scott Parel 38-38, Tim Clark (RSA) 37-39, Scott McCarron 38-38, Peter Hanson (SWE) 39-37, Chris Nallen 41-35, Paul McGinley (IRL) 38-38, Ben Curtis 38-38
77 - Craig Parry (AUS) 39-38, Chad Campbell 38-39, Ian Poulter (ENG) 36-41, Steve Conran (AUS) 39-38, David Denham 37-40, Robert Gamez 36-41, Peter Hedblom (SWE) 38-39, Carl Pettersson (SWE) 38-39, Tom Lehman 39-38, Charles Howell 36-41, Davis Love 39-38, Padraig Harrington (IRL) 38-39
78 - Steve Lowery 37-41, Rich Beem 37-41, Shaun Micheel 39-39
79 - Brandt Snedeker 38-41, Lee Williams 36-43, Simon Dyson (ENG) 40-39, Patrick Damron 40-39, Joe Ogilvie 37-42, Miguel Angel Jimenez (SPA) 41-38, Bart Bryant 38-41
80 - Rod Pampling (AUS) 38-42, Conrad Ray 40-40
82 - Luke List 40-42, Jay Haas 39-43, Jim Benepe 39-43
83 - Troy Kelly 38-45
85 - Paul Casey (ENG) 43-42.
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