US Open Leaderboard 2017: Updating Results and Standings for Friday | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors
Low scores were common at the U.S. Open on Thursday as Rickie Fowler led the 156-man field with a seven-under 65 at Erin Hills in Hartford, Wisconsin.
Per the official U.S. Open Twitter account, Fowler even equalled a tournament record:
U.S. Open (USGA) @usopengolf.@RickieFowler's 7-under 65 tied the lowest first-round score in the #USOpen, in relation to par.
The 28-year-old, who is looking for his first major win, was fantastic all day, making seven birdies and going bogey free. Every element of his game was clicking in perfect harmony as he avoided the deadly and infamous Erin Hills fescue and played smart golf.
U.S. Open (USGA) @usopengolfRecapping @RickieFowler's first-round 65 in under two minutes. #USOpen
Fowler needs to keep his foot on the gas, however, as five golfers shot a five or six under heading into the second round on Friday.
Remarkably, 44 players finished under par at a tournament that has seen six winners finish at or above par since 2005 and even saw a winner shoot a seven over in 1974 (Hale Irwin).
Per Sean Martin of PGATour.com, that crushes another U.S. Open record:
Sean Martin @PGATOURSMartinIt's official. Most sub-par scores in the first round of a U.S. Open (44). Surpasses the record set at Medinah in 1990 (39).
The amateurs shined on the big stage Thursday, as Scottie Scheffler led them all with a three-under 69. Three others (Cameron Champ, Maverick McNealy and Mason Andersen) are at one over or better.
Martin also noticed how much better the amateurs were doing than the best golfers in the world at one point:
Sean Martin @PGATOURSMartinMore amateurs (5) are under par at Erin Hills than top-10 players in the world (1).
Only two amateurs (Scheffler and Champ) eventually finished under par, but a whopping eight amateurs take scores of three over or better into the second round.
Other notables included Adam Hadwin, who made six straight birdies en route to carding a four-under 68, and Patrick Reed, who made six birdies and also shot four under. No one was hotter than Hadwin during his six-hole stretch:
U.S. Open (USGA) @usopengolf🐥🐥🐥🐥🐥🐥 @ahadwingolf is 4 under after six consecutive birdies on Nos. 18-5. #USOpen
While many players found success in Wisconsin on Thursday, others were not nearly as lucky, with lots of folks routinely finding the fescue off the tee.
Stars who struggled include Dustin Johnson (three over), Jon Rahm (four over), Rory McIlroy (six over) and Jason Day (seven over). They have their work cut out for them just to make the cut, which is currently projected to be even (the U.S. Open cut includes the top 60 and ties).
Per Jason Sobel of ESPN, McIlroy pretty much summed up what happens to golfers who can't find the fairway:
Jason Sobel @JasonSobelTANRory McIlroy, Tues.: "If we can't hit it within that avenue, you might as well pack your bags and go home." Rory McIlroy, today: 6-over 78
While McIlroy and others are undoubtedly disappointed with their Thursday results, no one has ever won the U.S. Open after the first day. Anything can happen in this tournament, even on the last day, as Arnold Palmer showed when he stormed back from down seven strokes to win in 1960.
