The 2023 U.S. Open teed off on Thursday at Los Angeles Country Club, for the first time in 70 years. It was a little weird being on the East coast and having Rory McIlroy tee off at 4:30pm EST, but didn't hate watching some Thursday night golf, especially with the Yankees having a day off.
First Round Leaders:
Across the previous 122 U.S. Opens, zero players recorded a round of 62 (crazy to think about). In 153 years of major championship golf, precisely one player (Branden Grace, 2017) pulled it off. On Thursday, within a 22-minute span, two SoCal natives, Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele, capped 62s. Wild, wild stuff. Never happened before, then happens twice within a half hour. That's golf for ya. Had Rickie as FRL (first round leader), so shoutout Xander for cutting that payday in half, a win nonetheless.
Fowler failed to qualify for the last two U.S. Opens. Amid a resurgent 2023 campaign (six top-10s), he easily could have taken a hefty LIV bag. Fowler bumped his ranking up to 45 and made this year's tournament. His comeback isn't a fluke. Fowler made up for two bogeys with a tournament-record 10 birdies, including four in a row at the turn. “Made a lot of good swings,” said Fowler. “Been a while since I've made some mid-range putts, so it was nice to make a lot of those.
You could make the argument that Xander Schauffele is the best player in the world without a major (he does have seven wins, an Olympic gold medal, and five top-10s in six U.S. Opens). On Thursday, the San Diego native shot a sterling bogey-free round. “I had a pretty good flow throughout the round,” Schauffele said. “I was looking at Rickie up on the board all day — every time I made a birdie, it just said I was still in second place. So I just felt like if he was doing it, why can't I?”
If you didn't hear, this years US Open is being considered a "home game" for any golfer that grew up or played college golf in California. Max Homa, who set the course record with a 61 (not a big deal) on his way to winning the 2013 Pac-12 championship, carded a noble 68. UCLA alum Patrick Cantlay, who has maybe played LACC more than anybody, posted a disappointing 72 (things you love to see). Collin Morikawa, apparently free of back pain, shot 1-over. Former Pepperdine star Sahith Theegala, also experienced at LACC, finished at 4-over. One-time USC Trojans stud, Angeleno Justin Suh, shot 69.
LIV Golfers:
Dustin Johnson, who has underwhelmed at the 2023 majors, was sharp all day. He finished with a 6-under 64 and ranked first in strokes gained: tee to green. His only bogey came on his final hole. Where has this guy been? Shout to whoever yelled "Let It Snow" on one of DJ's tee shots. Cocaine joke, nice!
Brooks Koepka bogeyed two of his first four holes, including two clunky short putts. But, he found a bit of a groove with consecutive birdies on the eighth, ninth, and first and grinded out a 71. The reigning PGA Champion is vying for his third U.S. Open trophy and sixth major.
Cam Smith finished at 1-under.
Bryson DeChambeau played with a combination of aggression and touch on his way to a nifty 67. Somewhat surprisingly, he was received warmly by the Los Angeles crowd.
Phil Mickelson made his own history just by showing up, as he tied the U.S. Open appearance record (32). Once the golf started, the five-time runner-up — who turns 53 on Friday — initially put himself in a position to contend for the career Grand Slam, birdieing two of his first three holes. His putting was great for the entire round, even if he overall cooled off. Mickelson carded a 1-under 69.
Rory McIlroy:
Rory was scorching from the jump. The PGA Tour's longest driver kicked off his tournament with 382-yard and 346-yard missiles on the first two holes (both birdies). He had five birdies on the front nine. Considering what he has had to carry the last year as the face of the PGA Tour and answering/speaking on the LIV Tour and now the recent merger, has not let it effect his game.
Unfortunately, a whiff from the fescue on 18 set up for a bogey, though a clutch putt avoided the double. He hit the clubhouse at 5-under. Of course, with Rory, it's not about how he starts, it's whether or not he can close it out come Sunday.
Here is the top of the leaderboard heading into Friday's round.
Side Notes:
Jordan Spieth, a popular pick at LACC due to his crafty short game, was simply brutal on the greens, resulting in a 72. The 2023 struggles for his good pal Justin Thomas (+3) continued.
Sam Bennett, the reigning NCAA champ who was the only amateur to sniff contention at The Masters (T16), impressed again on the big stage. He was poised for a 65 before finishing bogey-bogey. Still, 3-under ain't bad. A star in the making (he's officially pro now).
Tiger Woods was not on the premises, however, Charlies Woods was in attendance. Probably scouting out the course for the 2039 US Open.
Oh, and Scottie Scheffler learned how to putt.