PGA Tour rookie Andrew Landry still held a one-shot lead as the weather-hit opening round of the US Open approached its conclusion Friday but several big names were in hot pursuit. Landry, competing for the first time in the year's second major, had set the pace earlier on an overcast morning as he birdied his final hole for a four-under-par 66 at the rain-softened Oakmont Country Club. Long-hitting American Dustin Johnson and England's former world No. 1 Lee Westwood, each seeking a first major title, carded 67s while Spaniard Sergio Garcia was among a group on 68. Among the other golfing heavyweights in the field, defending champion Jordan Spieth opened with a 72, 2011 winner Rory McIlroy struggled to a 77 that included eight bogeys and Masters champion Danny Willett returned a 75. "Overall, I felt like I played well," Spieth told reporters after mixing two birdies with four bogeys. "I felt like I didn't quite get rewarded with my score for how I felt like I played. A couple tough breaks. It's a US Open. I'm still in it." Landry's opening round was the lowest ever in a US Open played at Oakmont, eclipsing the 67s shot by American Ben Hogan in 1953 and South African Gary Player in 1973. "Just making putts," Landry said when asked what had been the key to his impressive start in his first US Open. "Game all-around was sharp, from tee to green to chipping to everything you do. "I think the US Open just suits my game so well that I'm just able to manage these things because I'm not a guy that's going to go out and shoot 60 and 61 and 62. "I'm just a consistent guy that's going to shoot 68 and make a lot of pars." Landry, who earned his spot at Oakmont via a sectional qualifier in Memphis, said he had spent very little time thinking about his birdie putt overnight before returning to the course and sinking a 10-footer to conclude his round. "I just kind of thought about it this morning a little bit," he smiled. "I read the putt yesterday. I knew what it was doing. "I knew it was a cup-and-a-half out to the right, so no big break. It was a pretty easy putt to make if you get the speed right." Johnson, who tied for second in last year's US Open at Chambers Bay just one stroke behind Spieth after three-putting the final hole, moved into contention for his first major title by carding three birdies in a bogey-free display. With only nine players completing the opening round on Thursday, organizers are scrambling to get the tournament back on track and hope to get the second round finished by early afternoon Saturday. Weather conditions are expected to improve with mainly sunshine forecast for the weekend. — Reuters
