Adam Scott leads Australian charge at the US Open golf, Patrick Reed hits albatross
Australian veteran Adam Scott has suffered another dispiriting late lapse in his opening round at the US Open after a rousing early first-day effort at the fearsome Oakmont course.
Scott, leading the Aussie charge at the testing Pennsylvanian course, was right in the thick of the early hunt for the clubhouse lead overnight as, starting from the 10th hole, he reached the turn in two-under.
But dropped shots at the third and eighth holes — his 12th and 17th — dragged the 44-year-old back to level par, four shots adrift of the early pacesetter, American JJ Spaun, who recorded a superb bogey-free 66.
Among the early wave, Scott, competing in a remarkable 96th consecutive major championship dating back to the 2001 British Open, was still in a top-10 position as Oakmont began to bare its teeth.
Scott's round was a topsy-turvy affair from the start, as he recorded three bogeys and five birdies in his first nine holes, but as often has been the case in recent years, he was unable to prevent an accident-prone finale.
Yet the 2013 Masters champion still enjoyed a much better start than the current green jacket holder Rory McIlroy, who ended up eight shots back after a four-over 74.
Australia's "two Cams" both suffered disappointing starts, with Cameron Davis also shooting a 74, while Cameron Smith couldn't muster a single birdie in a 75 that featured five bogeys.
Marc Leishman was the final Australian to play on Thursday, local time, starting from the 10th tee. Leishman struggled off the tee, hitting just three fairways in his round.
Two bogeys in his first five holes were then followed by birdies at the 15th (sixth hole played), second (11th hole played) and fourth (13th hole played) holes to be one-under.
But two bogeys and three pars to finish the round left Leishman with a one-over, 71.
The pre-tournament talk had been all about how challenging the Oakmont Country Club course would be but Spaun produced a remarkable effort, only the eighth bogey-free round ever in a US Open there.
The 34-year-old Spaun, who lost to McIlroy in a play-off at The Players Championship in March, recorded his lowest-ever round in a major in stifling early conditions.
South Korean Kim Si-woo, whose birdie attempt at his final hole just missed, finished two shots off the pace while American Ben Griffin was a further shot adrift after mixing three birdies with two bogeys.
Spaun, who started on the back nine, had a spectacular start reaching the turn with four birdies to become the first player ever to cover the first nine in the opening round of an Oakmont US Open in 31 strokes or fewer.
The most dramatic shot of the day was Patrick Reed's amazing second on the 621-yard fourth hole, which the former Masters champ holed from 286 yards for only the fourth albatross in US Open history, since records were kept from 1983.
Others to have recorded an albatross at the US Open were T.C. Chen (1985 at Oakland Hills), Shaun Micheel (2010 at Pebble Beach) and Nick Watney (2012 at Olympic).
Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau, looking to become the first repeat US Open winner since Brooks Koepka in 2018, struggled in the penal rough to go around in 73.
But McIlroy's bright start, as he made two early birdies, ended up giving way to a wayward second nine as he made four bogeys over a seven-hole stretch.
Tournament favourite Scottie Scheffler was going out with the late starters alongside two-time major winner Collin Morikawa and European star Viktor Hovland.
AAP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Advertiser
3 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
South Africa's 'big call' on captain Bavuma pays off
Two hours after contemplating retiring hurt, courageous captain Temba Bavuma had jubilant South African fans singing his name. Bavuma, the diminutive No.4, is poised to become the man to lead the Proteas to a drought-breaking world cricket title at Lord's on Saturday. After decades of heartbreaking near-misses, often against Australia, South Africa are just 69 runs away from winning the World Test Championship final. Bavuma (65no) is set to finish the job when he resumes with century-maker Aiden Markram (102no), with the Proteas 2-213 and reigning champions Australia desperately searching for ideas to retain their crown. But South Africa's captain almost didn't come back out on the field for what. looks to have been the defining session in this Test. The 35-year-old battled a hamstring injury he suffered when sprinting for a quick single, requiring medical attention before and during the tea interval. "At tea time, we had to make a big call whether he continues to bat," South Africa assistant coach Ashwell Prince said. "How it will affect his stroke play, how that might affect Aiden's rhythm, if twos are being turned into one and they can't run the twos or the threes. "Aiden was adamant that the partnership is the key. "Aiden was well aware that he'll have to curb his intensity just in terms of running between the wickets to allow Temba to ease his way through it." South Africa's one and only senior ICC title came back in 1998 when they lifted the Champions Trophy. The majority of the spectators, whether they be South African or neutrals, have been behind the Proteas in this enthralling Test. As Bavuma and Markram were piling on runs against one of the best bowling attacks ever, long-suffering South African fans were chanting and dancing in the stands at the home of cricket. "Oh, Temba Bavuma," the crowd sang. The noise will go to even louder, more exuberant, levels if Bavuma lifts the World Test Championship mace on Saturday. This AAP article was made possible by support from Amazon Prime Video, which is broadcasting the World Test Championship final. Two hours after contemplating retiring hurt, courageous captain Temba Bavuma had jubilant South African fans singing his name. Bavuma, the diminutive No.4, is poised to become the man to lead the Proteas to a drought-breaking world cricket title at Lord's on Saturday. After decades of heartbreaking near-misses, often against Australia, South Africa are just 69 runs away from winning the World Test Championship final. Bavuma (65no) is set to finish the job when he resumes with century-maker Aiden Markram (102no), with the Proteas 2-213 and reigning champions Australia desperately searching for ideas to retain their crown. But South Africa's captain almost didn't come back out on the field for what. looks to have been the defining session in this Test. The 35-year-old battled a hamstring injury he suffered when sprinting for a quick single, requiring medical attention before and during the tea interval. "At tea time, we had to make a big call whether he continues to bat," South Africa assistant coach Ashwell Prince said. "How it will affect his stroke play, how that might affect Aiden's rhythm, if twos are being turned into one and they can't run the twos or the threes. "Aiden was adamant that the partnership is the key. "Aiden was well aware that he'll have to curb his intensity just in terms of running between the wickets to allow Temba to ease his way through it." South Africa's one and only senior ICC title came back in 1998 when they lifted the Champions Trophy. The majority of the spectators, whether they be South African or neutrals, have been behind the Proteas in this enthralling Test. As Bavuma and Markram were piling on runs against one of the best bowling attacks ever, long-suffering South African fans were chanting and dancing in the stands at the home of cricket. "Oh, Temba Bavuma," the crowd sang. The noise will go to even louder, more exuberant, levels if Bavuma lifts the World Test Championship mace on Saturday. This AAP article was made possible by support from Amazon Prime Video, which is broadcasting the World Test Championship final. Two hours after contemplating retiring hurt, courageous captain Temba Bavuma had jubilant South African fans singing his name. Bavuma, the diminutive No.4, is poised to become the man to lead the Proteas to a drought-breaking world cricket title at Lord's on Saturday. After decades of heartbreaking near-misses, often against Australia, South Africa are just 69 runs away from winning the World Test Championship final. Bavuma (65no) is set to finish the job when he resumes with century-maker Aiden Markram (102no), with the Proteas 2-213 and reigning champions Australia desperately searching for ideas to retain their crown. But South Africa's captain almost didn't come back out on the field for what. looks to have been the defining session in this Test. The 35-year-old battled a hamstring injury he suffered when sprinting for a quick single, requiring medical attention before and during the tea interval. "At tea time, we had to make a big call whether he continues to bat," South Africa assistant coach Ashwell Prince said. "How it will affect his stroke play, how that might affect Aiden's rhythm, if twos are being turned into one and they can't run the twos or the threes. "Aiden was adamant that the partnership is the key. "Aiden was well aware that he'll have to curb his intensity just in terms of running between the wickets to allow Temba to ease his way through it." South Africa's one and only senior ICC title came back in 1998 when they lifted the Champions Trophy. The majority of the spectators, whether they be South African or neutrals, have been behind the Proteas in this enthralling Test. As Bavuma and Markram were piling on runs against one of the best bowling attacks ever, long-suffering South African fans were chanting and dancing in the stands at the home of cricket. "Oh, Temba Bavuma," the crowd sang. The noise will go to even louder, more exuberant, levels if Bavuma lifts the World Test Championship mace on Saturday. This AAP article was made possible by support from Amazon Prime Video, which is broadcasting the World Test Championship final.
Perth Now
15 minutes ago
- Perth Now
South Africa's 'big call' on captain Bavuma pays off
Two hours after contemplating retiring hurt, courageous captain Temba Bavuma had jubilant South African fans singing his name. Bavuma, the diminutive No.4, is poised to become the man to lead the Proteas to a drought-breaking world cricket title at Lord's on Saturday. After decades of heartbreaking near-misses, often against Australia, South Africa are just 69 runs away from winning the World Test Championship final. Bavuma (65no) is set to finish the job when he resumes with century-maker Aiden Markram (102no), with the Proteas 2-213 and reigning champions Australia desperately searching for ideas to retain their crown. But South Africa's captain almost didn't come back out on the field for what. looks to have been the defining session in this Test. The 35-year-old battled a hamstring injury he suffered when sprinting for a quick single, requiring medical attention before and during the tea interval. "At tea time, we had to make a big call whether he continues to bat," South Africa assistant coach Ashwell Prince said. "How it will affect his stroke play, how that might affect Aiden's rhythm, if twos are being turned into one and they can't run the twos or the threes. "Both of them were adamant that Temba has got to continue. "He wanted to continue. "Aiden was adamant that the partnership is the key. "Aiden was well aware that he'll have to curb his intensity just in terms of running between the wickets to allow Temba to ease his way through it." South Africa's one and only senior ICC title came back in 1998 when they lifted the Champions Trophy. The majority of the spectators, whether they be South African or neutrals, have been behind the Proteas in this enthralling Test. As Bavuma and Markram were piling on runs against one of the best bowling attacks ever, long-suffering South African fans were chanting and dancing in the stands at the home of cricket. "Oh, Temba Bavuma," the crowd sang. The noise will go to even louder, more exuberant, levels if Bavuma lifts the World Test Championship mace on Saturday. This AAP article was made possible by support from Amazon Prime Video, which is broadcasting the World Test Championship final.
ABC News
18 minutes ago
- ABC News
World Test Championship final quick hits: Temba Bavuma battles through, Steve Smith busts his finger, Mitchell Starc breaks a drought
Steve Smith and Temba Bavuma both end up in the hands of medical staff, as Mitchell Starc scores his first 50 in six years. Here are five quick hits from the third day of the World Test Championship decider. Things started well for South Africa on day three. In perfect June sunshine, the irresistible Kagiso Rabada wound up, steamed in and had Nathan Lyon trapped plumb in front in the day's third over. But then, all of a sudden, batting was easy for the Australians, with number 11 Josh Hazlewood defending stoutly and Mitchell Starc flicking and chipping his way to an innings-high 58 not out. The demons from days one and two were nowhere to be seen, the ball was soft, and the South Africans failed to create even the hint of an opportunity for the better part of two hours. Starc was determined, brave and took much of the strike during his marathon 136 ball innings, but it was his partner who played the shot of the morning. With a niggling last wicket-stand quickly becoming a catastrophic one for South Africa, Marco Jansen banged one in wide on a good length. Hazlewood stood tall and steadied before gliding a perfectly time uppercut over a leaping cordon. Despite the Bazzing of Balls recently, Starc still has more Test sixes than Joe Root, thanks mostly to his early career as a specialist slog sweeper. But in recent years, since being moved from number eight to nine in the batting order, Starc has transformed into a less explosive tail-ender. It has also made him less prolific, boasting 10 half-centuries from his first 52 Tests and none from the following 44. But early on day three, former England captain Alastair Cook praised him on BBC Test Match Special for being able to play more innings of consequence with his new approach. And so it proved at Lord's as he passed 40 in a World Test Championship final for the second straight time, before carrying on to 50 for the first time since 2019. Starc appeared to have his third wicket of South Africa's run chase when Bavuma edged a shortish ball towards the slips. It raced towards Smith, but one of Australia's greatest slippers couldn't handle the sharp chance, in large part because he was standing incredibly close to the bat on account of the lack of carry throughout the Test. He and Beau Webster had worn helmets for slips practice before play because the slow pitch forced fielders behind the bat to step forward to have a chance of an edge being caught. Unfortunately, when a batter is playing back to someone bowling 140kph, that step forward reduces fielders' reaction time to almost nothing. This time Smith copped the sharply moving ball on the tip of his right pinky, suffering a compound dislocation so severe that he looked nauseous when he ripped his helmet off to examine the injury before promptly leaving the field with a horribly crooked phalange. Not long after being put down by Smith, South Africa's captain was cut down out of nowhere. Scurrying through for a quick single, Bavuma pulled up lame and needed a few minutes of treatment on a restrictive hamstring injury. The diminutive right-hander is no stranger to being hobbled by his hammies, having battled through the 2023 World Cup semifinal and being forced out of a Test against India a few months later. He struggled through to tea but it was assumed that might be it. Instead, he came out after the break and somehow continued to bat on while backing up Aiden Markram with some laboured but determined running between the wickets. In England, batting is generally at its best on the third day of a Test match when the pitch flattens out, the ball loses its sting and, if you're lucky, the sun comes out. With 28 wickets falling over days one and two, and only four falling on the third, rarely has that been proved more true than on day three of the 2025 World Test Championship final. Unfortunately for Australia, it just didn't have enough wickets left to make the most of it in the morning. Starc and Hazlewood battled admirably in a 59-run stand for the 10th wicket, but it was the South Africans who were in pole position to make the most of the suddenly slow, sun-drenched Lord's pitch. And Bavuma and Markram did just that, picking off singles with ease, playing the odd expansive shot and ultimately taking all of the spring from the Australian step.
