MAMARONECK, N.Y. (Reuters) – World number three Justin Thomas fired his lowest opening score in a major and held a one-shot lead after the first round of the U.S. Open on Thursday, while Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods were among a slew of big-name players well off the pace.
Thomas, who has one top-10 finish in five U.S. Open starts and missed the cut last year at Pebble Beach, drained a 24-foot birdie putt at the 18th for a five-under-par 65 at a Winged Foot layout that has yet to bare its teeth.
That left Thomas one shot clear of Belgian Thomas Pieters, American Matthew Wolff and Thomas’ Ryder Cup teammate Patrick Reed, who aced the par-three seventh.
“It’s one of the best rounds I’ve played in a while tee to green,” said Thomas, who needed only 28 putts on Winged Foot’s wildly undulating and speedy greens.
“There are a couple things here and there that definitely could have been better, but I made sure all of my misses were in the right spot, and that’s what you have to do at a U.S. Open.”
Four-times major champion Rory McIlroy, in his first start since becoming a father on Aug. 31, was among a group of three golfers two shots off the lead and the Northern Irishman later credited a new approach for his solid start.
“First round of a major you’re always anxious to play well, and maybe I’ve overthought it at times,” said McIlroy. “I just went out today and just took what was given to me a little more relaxed and played really nicely.”
