OAKMONT, (Pennsylvania) – J.J. Spaun (1st/-4) carded his low 18-hole score in a major with the previous low: (67) coming at the 2018 PGA Championship/R4). Spaun’s previous low in a U.S. Open was (75) at (2021/Torrey Pines/R2).
Thursday marked Spaun’s first career bogey-free round in a major and he was the lone player in the field without a bogey (or worse).
This is Spaun’s seventh time leading/co-leading after the first round on TOUR but he’s 0-for-6 in such instances.
South Korea’s Sungjae Im (T3) and Si Woo Kim (T3) each opened with 2-under (68) and each look to become the first Korean player since Y.E. Yang(2009 PGA Championship) to win a major.
Two-time U.S. Open champion (2017, 2018) Brooks Koepka (T3) eagled No. 4 on his way to 2-under (68). He looks to become the seventh player to win three U.S. Open titles (Jack Nicklaus/4; Ben Hogan/4; Bobby Jones/4; Willie Anderson/4; Tiger Woods/3; Hale Irwin/3).
Now seeking his third win in seven starts, Ben Griffin (T6) opened with 1-under (69) as he won the Zurich Classic of New Orleans (with partner Andrew Novak) and Charles Schwab Challenge. Griffin finished 2nd in his most recent start (the MemorialTournament presented by Workday).
Making his 96th consecutive major appearance (the longest active streak), Adam Scott (T11) posts even-par 70.
World No. 1 and FedEx Cup leader Scottie Scheffler (T49) shoots 3-over 73; seeks his fourth win in five starts (THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson; PGA Championship; the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday).
125th U.S. Open | Leaderboard After 18 Holes
J.J. Spaun 66 (-4)
2 Thriston Lawrence 67 (-3)
T3 Si Woo Kim 68 (-2)
T3 Brooks Koepka 68 (-2)
T3 Sungjae Im 68 (-2)
Full Leaderboard: (PGATourCom)