JJ Spaun Takes Early Lead at U.S. Open Amidst Tough Conditions

Spaun's Impressive Start at Oakmont

On Thursday, JJ Spaun secured the clubhouse lead during the first round of the U.S. Open held at Oakmont Country Club. Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy, the Masters champion, found himself trailing by eight strokes, and tournament favorite Scottie Scheffler had just begun his round.

The challenging nature of the course was a hot topic this week, and while it certainly posed difficulties, Spaun managed to achieve the eighth bogey-free round ever recorded at Oakmont during a U.S. Open.

After losing to McIlroy in a playoff at The Players Championship earlier this year, Spaun delivered an impressive four-under-par 66 in sweltering conditions, marking his best round in a major tournament.

Kim Si-woo finished the day two strokes behind Spaun, narrowly missing a birdie on his final hole, while Ben Griffin trailed by another shot after a round that included three birdies and two bogeys.

Spaun, who began his round on the back nine, made a strong start, carding four birdies before the turn and becoming the first player to complete the first nine holes of a U.S. Open at Oakmont in 31 strokes or fewer.

Continuing his momentum, Spaun, whose highest finish in a major is tied for 16th at the 2022 Masters, made several crucial putts and maintained his lead with nine consecutive pars.

Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau, one of the 14 LIV Golf players competing this week, struggled with Oakmont's challenging rough and opened with a score of 73.

McIlroy, aiming to regain the form that led him to a career Grand Slam in April, started on the 10th hole, making two early birdies but faltered on the back nine, finishing with a 74 after four bogeys and a double-bogey on the par-three eighth.

World number one Scheffler, who has won three of his last four tournaments including the PGA Championship, teed off later alongside two-time major winner Collin Morikawa and world number 14 Viktor Hovland.