Adam Scott in the mix as big names falter in brutal US Open start
Golf's biggest names slipped up and most Australians perished in a typically rough start to the US Open at fearsome Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania.
American JJ Spaun produced a majestic bogey-free four-under 66 to claim a one-shot first-round lead as only 10 players in the 156-man field broke par on the Open rota's most difficult layout.
There were shanks and air-swings from the savage rough as 16 players shot 80 or worse, including American qualifier George Duangmanee, who propped up the field with a 16-over-par 86.
Former world No.1 Adam Scott (70) and the resurgent Marc Leishman (71), playing his first major championship since the 2022 British Open, are the only Australians seemingly still in contention after Cam Davis (74), Cameron Smith (75), Jason Day (76) and Min Woo Lee (77) all struggled.
Heavyweights Scottie Scheffler, Bryson DeChambeau and Rory McIlroy also have work to do to make the halfway cut as Oakmont bared its teeth once more.
Tiger Woods is the only top-ranked player ever to win the Open at the brutal venue, and the curse of the world No.1 struck Scheffler, who could only manage a three-over 73 to be seven shots adrift of Spaun.
Pre-tournament second favourite DeChambeau also opened with a 73, while Masters champ McIlroy is one stroke further back, right on the cut line in a tie for 62nd, after shooting 41 on his inward nine.
'It got me,' said defending champion DeChambeau.
'Even for a guy like me, I can't get out of it some of the times, depending on the lie. It was tough. It was a brutal test of golf.'
Scott is tied for 11th after grinding out an even-par round despite suffering another dispiriting late lapse after a rousing early-morning effort on Thursday (Friday AEST).
The 44-year-old was right in the thick of the hunt for the clubhouse lead as he reached the turn in two under after racking up five front-nine birdies.
But dropped shots at the third and eighth holes - his 12th and 17th after starting from No.10 - dragged the veteran back to level par, four shots adrift of Spaun.
Monday qualifier Leishman hit only three fairways but scrambled brilliantly to grab a share of 20th spot.
Mixing five front-nine birdies with three bogeys, 2013 Masters champion Scott's round was a topsy-turvy affair from the start.
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 to nab a one-stroke advantage over unheralded South African Thriston Lawrence.
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.
Two-time US Open winner since Brooks Koepka is well poised in a tie for third at two under with South Koreans Si Woo Kim and Sungjae Im.
Im got to five under to briefly enjoy the outright lead before three late bogeys left him to match Koepka's 68.
In-form Ben Griffin, fellow American James Nicholas and Belgian Thomas Detry, Spain's two-time major champ Jon Rahm and Dane Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen all posted 69s to be the only other players in red numbers.
The 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.
Reed raised his hands to the sky, wondering what happened when he unleashed a three-wood from 286 yards in the fairway of the par-5 fourth hole at the US Open.
It was a beauty. The ball bounced three times then rolled towards the hole and into the cup. The so-called albatross is considered the rarest shot in golf, with only a few hundred dropping a year, compared to more than 30,000 holes-in-one.
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The Australian
19 minutes ago
- The Australian
Adam Scott in contention at the US Open, Cameron Smith hits major career low
Adam Scott is among the contenders at the half way mark but it was Jason Day who got the better of Oakmont in the second round as Cameron Smith and Min Woo Lee missed the cut at the US Open. Scott sits in fourth place at even par overall, three shots behind leader Sam Burns after a second successive round of 70. The 2013 Masters champion will be joined on the weekend by Day (+3), who shot the equal second best round of the day with a three-under par 67 to move into a share of 12th, Marc Leishman (+6) and Cam Davis (+7). Adam Scott is in contention at the US Open. Picture: Warren Little / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP Watch every round of the 2025 US Open LIVE & EXCLUSIVE on FOX SPORTS, available on Kayo. | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer. As his scorecards suggest, Scott has been one of the most consistent golfers across the opening 36 holes on a brutal layout that contributes to wild fluctuations in scoring for most of the field. 'I guess I would have expected to be in this position if you said even par through two rounds,' Scott said. 'It's just hard out there. It's hard to keep it going when guys have got on a run. It seems like they've come back a bit. 'I'm playing old-man-par golf at the moment.' The 44-year-old made three birdies for the day, including one to kick-off his round at the first hole – where he stuck his second shot from 212 yards out on the long par 4 to a little more than six feet from the hole. He drained a near 22-footer for birdie at the par 4 tenth, and stuck a wedge to roughly six feet at the short par 4 14th to set up another birdie. Scott was once again impressive off the tee and with his irons, hitting nine of 14 fairways and 13 of 18 greens in regulation. His iron play had been letting him down of late, he even said it was the worst part of his game, but rediscovering his groove has him buoyant about his chances of claiming a second major title. Scott, who is playing in his 96th successive major, was asked if that feat goes underappreciated, and said that 'maybe it does'. 'But I'd be pretty proud of winning this thing on the weekend,' he added. 'Right now, that's really what I'm here to do, and I feel like there's probably not been many signs to anyone else but me the last month or six weeks that my game is looking better. 'But I definitely feel more confident than I have been this year. I feel like this is what I've been working towards. Adam Scott during the second round of the 125th U.S. Open. Picture:'I was kind of in the mix late at the PGA, and now kind of putting myself in this one for the weekend. It's a long way to go, but I feel like my game is in good enough shape to do this.' Scott was then asked how energised he was to be in this position at his age, to which he said, 'I have a put together a nice career, but I think another major more would really go a long way in fulfilling my own self, when it's all said and done.' 'HOW I USED TO DO IT': DAY'S OLD SCHOOL MOVE Only Burns' second round 65 and overnight leader J.J. Spaun's opening round 66 bettered Jason Day's 67. The former world No. 1 fired four birdies and an eagle as he was back to his best after dealing with troublesome wrist and neck injuries in recent times. The eagle came at the par 5 12th, his third hole of the day, as Day drained a 20-foot putt after launching a 3-wood from more than 300 yards out onto the green. Two holes later, he stuck a wedge to tap-in range for birdie at the 14th and chipped to inside five feet to set up another birdie at another short par 4, the 17th. Back-to-back birdies courtesy of a pearler of a tee shot at the par 3 sixth and holing a near 25-footer at the par 4 seventh then wrestled back momentum in the late stages of his round. The 2015 PGA champion was pleased with his work on the greens as he needed only 27 putts for the round with help from his stellar short game. 'Putted a lot better today. Obviously I hit it nice on the front side, which was the back side,' Day said. 'I got into a little bit of trouble kind of midway round. Just didn't, just started missing a few greens. 'Then kind of settled it a little bit with a birdie on 6 and 7 for me. So that was, it was a big day to come back and shoot 3-under to make the cut.' Jason Day looks on from the 18th green at the U.S. Open. Picture:Day's change in fortunes with the flat stick came after some old school improvisation after the feel and look was off. 'I bent my putter. Yeah, no, I just manually bent it myself. Stood on it,' he said. 'That's kind of how I used to do it back in the day. 'It just hadn't been looking very good to me personally, kind of looks a little bit hooded, the grip's on a little bit closed too, so that's not a positive for me. 'But I bent it enough to make it look more open, which is good.' Jason Day lines up a putt on the second green at Oakmont. Picture: Gregory Shamus / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP As for his chances across the weekend, Day is confident he can continue to make up ground after a disappointing opening round of 76. 'I feel like you're going to make bogeys out here and try and get the birdies when you can,' he said. '3-over right now, if I can just keep climbing the leaderboard, get into contention on Sunday that would be great.' In his first major since 2022, Marc Leishman advanced to the weekend despite shooting the worst round of the day among his countrymen with a 75. Marc Leishman collapsed in the second round but still made the weekend. Picture: Getty Images via AFP Leishman's first round 71 had him well-placed but then he held his nerve to make the cut across the back nine after reaching the turn in 40. Meanwhile, Cam Davis made the cut on the number with a second round 73. Davis bogeyed his second last hole to put himself under the pump, but calmly two-putted for par at the par 4 ninth, his final hole, to advance. Cam Davis also advanced to the weekend. Picture: Getty Images via AFP 'A LITTLE TOO LATE': SMITH'S WORST RUN CONTINUES Cameron Smith will not play the weekend for the fourth straight major championship. The 2022 Open champion is officially in the worst stretch of his career in the majors after missing the cut by two shots at +8. Smith signed off on a second round 73 that included a back nine fight back in a last-ditch attempt to salvage his tournament. The LIV star made birdies at 11, 14, 15 and 17, but a front nine of 41, which included a three-putt triple bogey at the first, and bogeys at the 16th proved too costly. Cameron Smith did not make the cut. Picture: Getty Images via AFP Smith hit 13 of 18 greens in regulation in the second round, but his much-lauded putting deserted him around the 36 holes, taking 63 putts which ranked him 138th out of a field of 156. 'We've all known about his driver struggles but it's that club in the bag that has kind of left him,' former Australian professional James Nitties said on commentary. 'We all know how good of a putter he is and he's doing it now (on the back nine), but it's a little too late.' Min Woo Lee also did not make the weekend. Picture: Getty Images via AFP Min Woo Lee also finished one shot worse at +9, but was much improved in his second round with a 72. The 26-year-old simply made life too difficult for himself after a first round 77 and missed the cut for the second straight major.
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
'Take him to school': American's threat to Kambosos Jr
Tired of the trash talk, Richardson Hitchins is promising to send George Kambosos Jr back to Australia with tail between his legs. Kambosos (22-3, 10KOs) will bid to join the great Jeff Fenech as a multi-division world champion when he takes on Hitchins (19-0, 7KOs) for the American's IBF super-lightweight belt at New York's Madison Square Garden Theatre on Sunday (AEST). Sydney's former unified lightweight champ is up in class and Hitchins suspects probably out of his league too despite Kambosos spruiking about maintaining his perfect record in the US. Be it by knockout or through sheer boxing smarts, Hitchins doesn't care how he wins, just as long as he puts Kambosos in his place after an explosive build-up spiced with threats, bets and a cancelled face-off after the two combatants almost came to blows on Friday. "I know I've been promising everybody a knockout, but, to be honest, bro, the way George has been talking trash, like I really don't got skills, I really feel like I'm gonna just, like, beat him up," Hitchins told AAP. "Or it just depends how George comes. "If he wants to be like the common fighter who would think that I don't have that much skills, like be aggressive and come at me and think that's what he has to do, if he does that, he's gonna get stopped. "But if he tries to make me think and shit like that, then I don't know. I might just have to just take him to school. "If he really wants to come out and take a fast-ass whooping, he's gonna get stopped. "If he wanna be strategic, then I'm not gonna be dumb. I'm not gonna be the first to make mistakes, so then it's gonna be a lesson." For all his bravado, Hitchins - who took down Australian Liam Paro last December to claim the strap, insists he respects the challenger. He saw enough in Kambosos's shock victory over Teofimo Lopez at Madison Square Garden in late 2021 to know the 32-year-old Sydney slugger can be dangerous. "I know he's got fast hands," the New Yorker said. "He's a little twitchy. He's aware in the ring. He do have boxing abilities. I can see how he made a living in the sport. "He's not a dumb fighter. He knows when to hold. He has deceptive timing. "There's things in the boxing ring, qualities ... I can see why he's at where he at in boxing. I can see why he didn't stop in the amateurs and he kept pursuing boxing." But just not as good as him, says Hitchins, who added he could "see the comparisons" between himself and Devin Haney, the two-divisional pound-for-pound king who stripped Kambosos of his IBF, WBC and WBO belts with two wins over the Australian in Melbourne in 2022. "Definitely the stylistic comparisons but, if you get really in depth with it, I feel like I display that style ... better," Hitchins warned. "I think my style is better. "Yeah, he probably got Lopez, but we'll see."
The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
'Hurt locker' Hollioake hunts debut Cairns Ironman win
After announcing herself as a new star of Ironman triathlon, Australian Regan Hollioake is now acutely aware of what can happen when race day goes wrong. The 35-year-old from Ballarat is one of the leading favourites for Sunday's Ironman Cairns, which she is racing for the first time. Hollioake will also make her debut in October at the Hawaiian Ironman world championships - triathlon's most famous race - and has come to Cairns fresh from a three-week training camp at the Kona race site. Since turning professional last year, Hollioake has won Ironman Australia at Port Macquarie as well as the New Zealand and Malaysia Ironman races over the 3.8km swim, 180km cycle and 42.2km marathon run format. Then, in late April, she raced Ironman Texas and, as Hollioake explains it, "I got a little wrapped up in the race". Hollioake made the fatal mistake of not paying attention to her race nutrition and hydration, crucial for the eight-plus hours of an Ironman. She does not remember starting the run. Her kidneys shut down and the Australian passed out 13km into the marathon. "I woke up in the medical tent," Hollioake told AAP. "Some really hard and tough lessons learned, but some really valuable lessons ... I paid the price. "The lessons you learn in Ironman are big ones - there are no easy lessons." But Hollioake recovered quickly and medical tests showed no lasting ill effects. "It was a bit confronting ... I got away with that one," she said. Now to Cairns, which is part of the Ironman Pro Series and boasting a top international field. It will be a crucial stepping stone for Hollioake ahead of Kona. The training camp was her first visit to the Big Island and she immediately understood why the Hawaiian Ironman is such a big deal. "I can see why it's really hard to get right, that race. It's such an extreme climate and the course is brutal," she said. "But I really enjoyed it. I quite like getting in the hurt locker and just staying there." Hollioake also is determined to return to top form with a big result in Cairns. "I'm really, really excited for this race. I've never been in better condition in terms of physically, but also emotionally ... I'm really confident in the fact that I've done everything I can," she said. "You definitely need to have your head in the game for the race at hand. But in the back of your mind, there's always Kona being the big goal," she said. "We're all business for Cairns on Sunday. "I don't know what I'm capable of, but I keep surprising myself." New Zealander Hannah Berry will defend her title and Australian Kylie Simpson is a two-time Cairns champion, while Queensland-based Dutch star Lotte Wilms and American Jackie Hering are other prominent names. The men's race will feature three-time winner Braden Currie from New Zealand, rising Australian star Nick Thompson and American long-distance gun Matthew Marquardt. After announcing herself as a new star of Ironman triathlon, Australian Regan Hollioake is now acutely aware of what can happen when race day goes wrong. The 35-year-old from Ballarat is one of the leading favourites for Sunday's Ironman Cairns, which she is racing for the first time. Hollioake will also make her debut in October at the Hawaiian Ironman world championships - triathlon's most famous race - and has come to Cairns fresh from a three-week training camp at the Kona race site. Since turning professional last year, Hollioake has won Ironman Australia at Port Macquarie as well as the New Zealand and Malaysia Ironman races over the 3.8km swim, 180km cycle and 42.2km marathon run format. Then, in late April, she raced Ironman Texas and, as Hollioake explains it, "I got a little wrapped up in the race". Hollioake made the fatal mistake of not paying attention to her race nutrition and hydration, crucial for the eight-plus hours of an Ironman. She does not remember starting the run. Her kidneys shut down and the Australian passed out 13km into the marathon. "I woke up in the medical tent," Hollioake told AAP. "Some really hard and tough lessons learned, but some really valuable lessons ... I paid the price. "The lessons you learn in Ironman are big ones - there are no easy lessons." But Hollioake recovered quickly and medical tests showed no lasting ill effects. "It was a bit confronting ... I got away with that one," she said. Now to Cairns, which is part of the Ironman Pro Series and boasting a top international field. It will be a crucial stepping stone for Hollioake ahead of Kona. The training camp was her first visit to the Big Island and she immediately understood why the Hawaiian Ironman is such a big deal. "I can see why it's really hard to get right, that race. It's such an extreme climate and the course is brutal," she said. "But I really enjoyed it. I quite like getting in the hurt locker and just staying there." Hollioake also is determined to return to top form with a big result in Cairns. "I'm really, really excited for this race. I've never been in better condition in terms of physically, but also emotionally ... I'm really confident in the fact that I've done everything I can," she said. "You definitely need to have your head in the game for the race at hand. But in the back of your mind, there's always Kona being the big goal," she said. "We're all business for Cairns on Sunday. "I don't know what I'm capable of, but I keep surprising myself." New Zealander Hannah Berry will defend her title and Australian Kylie Simpson is a two-time Cairns champion, while Queensland-based Dutch star Lotte Wilms and American Jackie Hering are other prominent names. The men's race will feature three-time winner Braden Currie from New Zealand, rising Australian star Nick Thompson and American long-distance gun Matthew Marquardt. After announcing herself as a new star of Ironman triathlon, Australian Regan Hollioake is now acutely aware of what can happen when race day goes wrong. The 35-year-old from Ballarat is one of the leading favourites for Sunday's Ironman Cairns, which she is racing for the first time. Hollioake will also make her debut in October at the Hawaiian Ironman world championships - triathlon's most famous race - and has come to Cairns fresh from a three-week training camp at the Kona race site. Since turning professional last year, Hollioake has won Ironman Australia at Port Macquarie as well as the New Zealand and Malaysia Ironman races over the 3.8km swim, 180km cycle and 42.2km marathon run format. Then, in late April, she raced Ironman Texas and, as Hollioake explains it, "I got a little wrapped up in the race". Hollioake made the fatal mistake of not paying attention to her race nutrition and hydration, crucial for the eight-plus hours of an Ironman. She does not remember starting the run. Her kidneys shut down and the Australian passed out 13km into the marathon. "I woke up in the medical tent," Hollioake told AAP. "Some really hard and tough lessons learned, but some really valuable lessons ... I paid the price. "The lessons you learn in Ironman are big ones - there are no easy lessons." But Hollioake recovered quickly and medical tests showed no lasting ill effects. "It was a bit confronting ... I got away with that one," she said. Now to Cairns, which is part of the Ironman Pro Series and boasting a top international field. It will be a crucial stepping stone for Hollioake ahead of Kona. The training camp was her first visit to the Big Island and she immediately understood why the Hawaiian Ironman is such a big deal. "I can see why it's really hard to get right, that race. It's such an extreme climate and the course is brutal," she said. "But I really enjoyed it. I quite like getting in the hurt locker and just staying there." Hollioake also is determined to return to top form with a big result in Cairns. "I'm really, really excited for this race. I've never been in better condition in terms of physically, but also emotionally ... I'm really confident in the fact that I've done everything I can," she said. "You definitely need to have your head in the game for the race at hand. But in the back of your mind, there's always Kona being the big goal," she said. "We're all business for Cairns on Sunday. "I don't know what I'm capable of, but I keep surprising myself." New Zealander Hannah Berry will defend her title and Australian Kylie Simpson is a two-time Cairns champion, while Queensland-based Dutch star Lotte Wilms and American Jackie Hering are other prominent names. The men's race will feature three-time winner Braden Currie from New Zealand, rising Australian star Nick Thompson and American long-distance gun Matthew Marquardt.
