San Diego, United States: Hideki Matsuyama was fast out of the blocks at the 121st US Open Championship.
With three birdies against a solitary bogey, the Japanese superstar signed for an opening two-under-par 69 over the South Course at Torrey Pines Golf Course.
“I played really good today and hopefully I can keep up the same momentum tomorrow,” said Matsuyama, who created history in April when he won the Masters Tournament to become the first male Japanese Major champion.
Now the two-time former Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship winner’s sights are set on a second Major title at a course he’s played before in regular PGA Tour events.
“It’s sure a lot tougher than when we play here for Farmers, but I love it,” said Matsuyama, who is tied for fifth, two shots behind joint leaders Russell Henley of America and South African Louis Oosthuizen, who still has two holes to complete.
A 90-minute fog delay on Thursday morning led to the circumstance in which 36 players were unable to complete the round before dark.
Oosthuizen, playing in the afternoon wave, bogeyed the par-four 11th, his second of the day, before playing five-under-par golf over the next 14 holes. Should Oosthuizen, winner of the 2010 Open Championship at St Andrews, maintain his position or pass Henley when round one resumes on Friday at 6:50 am (local time), it would be the first time he has owned the first-round lead in a Major championship. He is facing a 30-footer for birdie on the par-three eighth.
Two Europeans – 2018 Open Championship winner Francesco Molinari, of Italy, and Rafa Cabrera Bello, of Spain – shot 68s, while the group lurking two strokes back includes Matsuyama, two-time US Open champion Brooks Koepka, hometown favourite Xander Schauffele, and Jon Rahm, whose first PGA Tour win came at Torrey Pines in the 2017 Farmers Insurance Open.
Korean Kim Si-woo carded a 71, while Japan's Rikuyo Hoshino is at even-par through 14 holes and Australian Cam Smith at level-par after 16.
Im Sung-jae is one-over after 16, while fellow-Koreans Kang Sung and KH Lee signed for a 75 and 76 respectively.