US Open first round – Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry struggle on opening day at Oakmont
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The US Open first round begins today at the unforgiving Oakmont course in Pennsylvania.
Irish hopefuls Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry have been paired together for the first two rounds as McIlroy seeks to add a sixth major to his tally, while Offaly native Lowry bids to bridge a six-year gap to his one and only major win so far, the 2019 Open Championship.
Follow all the action as it happens here.
US Open Leaderboard - Day 1:
J.J. Spaun -4 (66)
Si Woo Kim -2 (thru 17)
Thomas Detry -2 (thru 16)
Thriston Lawrence -2 (thru 14)
Ben Griffin -1 (69)
Robert MacIntyre -1 (thru 17)
Rory McIlroy +4 (74)
Justin Rose +7 (77)
Shane Lowry +9 (79)
Just now
Rory McIlroy shoots a four-over round of 74 in his opening round
Wrapping up on his first day's work, McIlroy cuts his 40-foot putt down to a 4-footer and taps in for par.
It was all looking so promising in the front nine. The Holywood, Co.Down man started on the 10th-hole and drained consecutive birdies on the par-three eleventh and par-five twelfth.
He rounded out the first nine holes without a flaw, but the back nine caused all sorts of problems - namely the 13th and 17th holes - where the rough gave him bother.
A quartet of bogeys led to his only double bogey on the 17th which puts the 36-year-old under some pressure ahead of day two in Pennsylvania.
8 minutes ago
Shane Lowry enters the clubhouse with a disappointing 79
Oh Shane... he drains his final 3-foot putt of the day for par with ease. Whatever about the front-nine, in which he fired two bogies and a double-bogey, the back nine caught him out all together.
It looked like the Offaly man might claw it back after a wonderful eagle on the par-four third, but it never stabilised there after.
He rounded off with three bogeys and a double bogey in his last five holes. One would imagine the 38-year-old will need to finish well under-par on round two if he hopes to make the cut!
13 minutes ago
At least the 18th and final hole of this first round is treating McIlroy and Lowry a bit better. Both golfers find safe ground on the green with their second shots in their approach.
McIlroy is slightly closer to the pin but it's easily a 40-foot putt for birdie. Par would suffice here you'd imagine!
19 minutes ago
WATCH: A compilation of that outrageous round of 66 from J.J. Spaun - a joint-best opening day score in US Open history at Oakmont
U.S. Open on Twitter / X
Watch and learn! 👇👇👇Every televised shot from J.J. Spaun's bogey-free 66, just the 8th flawless round in U.S. Open history at Oakmont. pic.twitter.com/fuQnyLMgL9— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 12, 2025
23 minutes ago
Onto the final tee for his first round and McIlroy will be happy with that - he stripes it down the right-hand lane of the fairway. Lowry will hope to emulate that and try end his first Oakmont outing on a high.
24 minutes ago
First double-bogey of the day for McIlroy, Lowry drops a shot
It's a long and unorthodox par-three eighth to be fair, but McIlroy pays the price. He tries to force his way out of the rough and barely gets any lift out of the ball. It travelled a few feet at best.
With his third, he manages to skittle it across the green leaving him with a long putt for bogey. The best he can do is get it within a few feet before sinking it for double bogey - his first of the day! Disaster.
As for Shane, he finds the green but a disastrous round goes from bad to worse as Oakmont claims another putt for par from the Offaly native. It was a 5-footer that came up short so bogey it is! He slips to 9 over.
Sky Sports Golf on Twitter / X
Rory McIlroy experiencing the dangers of the Oakmont rough 🫣 pic.twitter.com/2vLJPhvOPM— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) June 12, 2025
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33 minutes ago
Robert MacIntyre creeps into the red numbers - only the sixth golfer to do so as things stand - with a neat birdie on the 15th:
U.S. Open on Twitter / X
Welcome to the red zone!Bob MacIntyre 🏴 gets to under par for the first time today. pic.twitter.com/nOG6n1p2LG— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 12, 2025
37 minutes ago
Onto their 17th-hole of the day on the par-three eighth and McIlroy pulls his tee shot to the right and into the rough. As for Lowry, it's a narrow escape - his ball looks destined for the sand but slows up just in time! He needed that.
39 minutes ago
The leaderboard continues to shift and change as Ben Griffin picks up his second birdie on his back nine to move within two strokes of leader Spaun (-4) who sits in the clubhouse.
Korean golfer Kim Si-Woo bounces back into second place with consecutive birdies on the par-three sixth and par-four seventh. Just one shot behind Spaun now!
43 minutes ago
Dropped shots all round for the Irish contingent
Yikes! Neither McIlroy or Lowry fare any better on the par-four seventh - their 16th hole of the opening round.
The County Down native is let down by his putting game once again as he picks up his fourth bogey on the back nine.
Meanwhile, Lowry drops a further two shots behind as he reluctantly jots down his third double-bogey of the day onto his scorecard.
49 minutes ago
Spaun ends the day with a flawless 66
Just incredible from the Californian at Oakmont in this opening round. Starting on the 10th Hole, he nailed three birdies in his front nine paved the way to a flawless run of nine pars on the back nine.
An absolutely sensational round of golf from the 34-year-old who went bogey-free throughout and stands a good chance of finishing the day top of the leaderboard. One of the best-ever scores at Oakmont in the US Open!
Sky Sports Golf on Twitter / X
A BOGEY-FREE round of 66 from J.J. Spaun 🙌His lowest round in a major 🔥 pic.twitter.com/CcuOAJziMq— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) June 12, 2025
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53 minutes ago
McIlroy goes flag hunting with his second on the par-4 seventh, his 16th of the day, but it doesn't exactly pay off. His iron shot carries through to the back of the green leaving him with yet another 30-foot putt.
As for Lowry, he has around 130-yards to the pin with his third shot leaving him around 35 foot from the pin.
Today 12:27 PM
McIlroy has been taking his time with his club selection over these back nine holes. In the end, he backs the driver from the tee and blasts it up the fairway.
Today 12:26 PM
McIlroy and Lowry drop shots on the 6th
Onto the par-three sixth - McIlroy's 15th hole of the day - and the six iron shot results in an unfortunate lie that leaves him in the bunker. A 6-footer for par but it comes up just short. Bogey it is - his third of the day as his game continues to unravel on his back nine.
Meanwhile, Lowry finds himself in the greenside trap on the same hole. He digs himself out and onto the green but similarly requires two putts to tap in. A bogey for the Offaly man. His eagle on the third is undone inside the three following holes.
Today 12:13 PM
Moving onto his back nine, Belgian golfer Thomas Detry has fired one bogey and two pars but remains two strokes behind leader J.J. Spaun (-4) who is the only competitor yet to drop a shot in Round 1.
Today 12:04 PM
Rory settles the nerves with par, Lowry passes up on birdie
The Down man's approach to the 14th green was okay - his second shot carried through and past the hole. His first putt attempt is very respectable which left the 36-year-old with a 4-footer. It was a difficult gradient but he took his time over it and made no mistake.
Agonizing for Lowry who coughs up a great chance at birdie - it looked as if he left a bit much on it as it carried through on the left-hand lip on the hole. The Offaly man can only break even.
Today 11:49 AM
Lowry slips further down the leaderboard
The par-5 fourth caused Lowry enough hassle too - he found his way to the front of the green. However, the 38-year-old required three bites at the cherry to sink his putt. He drops a shot with a bogey as a result.
Today 11:46 AM
WATCH: Just look at that battle McIlroy endured on the 4th-hole... how he escaped with bogey from there is a mystery and a skill!
U.S. Open on Twitter / X
Rory is currently in a battle with the par-5 4th. pic.twitter.com/zdUqIB36kM— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 12, 2025
Today 11:44 AM
The 2019 US Open winner Woodland drops a shot to fall two strokes behind the leader Spaun. A bogey on the 12th proving costly - his first of round. Meanwhile, Ludvig Aberg drops a shot with bogey on the fifth and finds himself on -1 thru 14 for the day.
Today 11:35 AM
It maybe sunny and tranquil in Pennsylvania, but Oakmont is brewing up a storm on the back nine for Rory!
That was ugly to say the least. The 13th sees the Holywood man catch the hazard off the tee. Swinging through knee-high grass, he barely sends the ball 20 yards with his second. The third fares no better as the gallery gasps - he's a long way from the pin and he's already on his fourth shot.
Eventually, a six iron shot takes him to within 30 feet of the hole. Can he salvage a bogey? Yes he can - 30 foot 8 inches to be exact. Bogey it is but he'll take it after that disastrous approach!
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