US Open golf 2025: First round sees players challenged in brutal Oakmont setup – live action

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On the 18th hole, he turns in 33 strokes, which is par for Rory McIlroy. He leaves with a slight bounce in his step and heads for the 1st. The large stick is then slashed down the center of the narrow fairway by him. His performance has significantly improved since he missed the cut in Canada the previous week.

I will now turn you over to David Tindall. Savor every moment. We’ll see you later!

Bob MacIntyre almost made a second birdie at the long, long, long par-three eighth hole after making one at the seventh. He shaves the cup with his putt after hitting his tee shot from 274 yards to 23 feet. It should come as no surprise that, given its distance, this hole has not yet produced any birdies today. Even with the tee up, it will probably play more than 300 yards on Sunday, if only to surpass the record for the longest par-three in US Open history, which was set on this same hole in 2007.

The 20-foot par putt on 1 … lip out as Ludvig Åberg begins to walk in. I have no idea why that didn’t fall. Åberg modifies his stance. Now I’m depressed. This is his third putt that has managed to stay up despite all known gravity laws, and he has had absolutely no luck with the flat stick. He regresses to -1. On 9, Bryson DeChambeau makes a clumsy bogey by powering through the line of a short par putt. Level par again, he storms off.

Oban’s best moves back to level par after Robert MacIntyre drains a 30-footer across 7. It is long overdue for Scotland to have another major champion; Paul Lawrie’s Open triumph was a very long time ago. Let’s have a party like it’s 1999, Bob.

It’s Rory McIlroy’s 17th putt. After his struggles down the right of the hole, that is a fine par. The champion of the Masters, who has so far been flawless, is doing well.

Spaun (10*) -4.

-3: Woodland (7).

-2: McIlroy (8*), Clark (7), S Kim (7*), Detry (6), Nørgaard (5*), Åberg (9*), Scott (9*), and Kim.

At the driveable par-four 17th, Rory McIlroy is having trouble. His wedge attempt to land a few steps past the bunker and onto the fringe hits nothing but sand after his tee shot vanishes into the long stuff down the right. Although he splashes out to seven feet, the upcoming par putt is a test. As he fluffs a chip and clips his second attempt 13 feet past the flag and onto the fringe, his playing partner Shane Lowry’s mood initially gets worse before slightly improving. He naturally adds something from there. No putter is required. He is still +1.

On the enormous 276-yard par-three eighth hole, Xander Schauffele halts the rot. Despite missing the green by a great distance to the left, he manages to wedge to 15 feet and makes a par saver. It isn’t absolutely necessary, but he won’t want to give up any more ground at +2. Particularly when he’s observing Bryson DeChambeau, his playing partner, play hard. The reigning champion shot a fine birdie at 7 after arrowing his second from 170 yards to six feet, but he was par at 8. He’s -1.

16:23 CEST is the latest update.

Ludvig Åberg makes a birdie putt from six feet out after sending his approach into 18 pin high. He’s made 33 strokes on the back nine, but he could have done even better because he’s had a few putts that have slammed foully on the lip. They would have dropped on another day. The narrow margins are so close to something striking. He’s still grinning. Likewise, Adam Scott, his playing partner, turns in 33 after making a birdie. Both of them are at -2.

Here, Shane Lowry finished second in 2016. He doesn’t seem to want to do that again this week, let alone do it better. At sixteen, he misses his tee shot and lands it in a greenside bunker. His bash is nowhere to be seen. A dark cloud hangs over his irritated noggin as he walks around after three putts, which is a double and he is +3. A surprise double for Xander Schauffele as well, who discovered a fairway bunker from the tee and was consistently out of position on 7. After four holes of going south at warp speed, the defending Open champion, who is +2, entered red figures after a quick start of 4-4-4-4.

At age 33, Niklas Nørgaard made his major-championship debut at the PGA Championship last month. Even though he didn’t make the cut at Quail Hollow, he’s making an impression here on his second major appearance. It’s better late. After making a birdie at number 11, he walks in the putt after hitting his tee shot at the par-three 13th hole to 15 feet. He’s -2. In the meantime, JJ Spaun played the back nine in 31 strokes and was par for 18 shots. On Sunday, he could get cash for that. However, he will need it for himself if he continues to play at this high level, which he has done all year.

With all of his strength, Rory McIlroy lashes his second out of the dirt at 15:15. The best he could do was to muscle his ball onto the front of the green. After two long-range putts, he makes a fantastic par save and is leaping to the next tee. Gary Woodland is also bouncing; he makes the birdie putt after putting in a five-yard approach from 150 yards to three feet. Grinning and bouncing. The 2019 winner is having a good time. He’s definitely one of the eight players currently playing below par.

-: Spaun (8*).

-3: Woodland (5).

-2: Clark (5), S Kim (5*), McIlroy (6*).

-1: Detry (3), Norgaard (3*), Åberg (7*).

Posted at 15:31 CEST.

The drivable par-four 17th hole is where JJ Spaun made another birdie, and it should be a lot of fun come Sunday afternoon. At -4, he is now two clear. Bryson, on the other hand, shot a solid par on six, but his tee shot vanished into dense greenside rough. He is short-sided and excels at tidying up and punching out to six feet. He stays on par.

Several former champions have gotten off to a strong start this morning, including Rory McIlroy. The 2011 winner is paired with 2023 winner Wyndham Clark, who has already made birdies three and four, and Gary Woodland, who just made his second birdie of the day at four after making his first at two. At five, current champion Bryson DeChambeau makes the birdie he’s been given after taking advantage of a fortunate right-angled bounce out of greenside rough. After his aforementioned opening bogey, he is now back to level par.

Once more, Rory McIlroy pulls the driver out. But the amazing swish of 12 is better than this one. It almost reaches a penalty area in the center of the dense rough, and it is carved out to the right of the lengthy par-four 15th. Even though the ball pauses in time, it vanishes into the grass so high that, in the words of Sky’s always amusing Nick Dougherty, “you could lose a dog in it.”. Additionally, he has 182 yards left to go. I hope that goes well, Rory.

In the 222-yard par-three 16th hole, JJ Spaun makes one of the day’s best shots. a five-foot dart. With the birdie putt in, the 34-year-old Californian, who nearly missed at Sawgrass in March, has the lead all to himself.

-3: Spaun (7*).

-2: S Kim (4*), Woodland (4), and McIlroy (4*).

Posted at 15:25 CEST.

Bryson DeChambeau ends up striking the sand on the opposite side of the fairway with his tee shot because he doesn’t want to go to the Church Pew bunker down the left of 4. His second lands on the gallery crossing after he lays up. He decides to seek relief. DeChambeau places the ball when his caddie picks it up without marking it. The referee arrives to tell him to get his act together. He must take full relief after dropping his ball so close to the walkway, but there is no penalty. It’s not a complete relief if his foot is on the line, and he could be in retroactive trouble. Since it’s so close, it’s difficult to tell from the TV images. However, unless we learn differently later, let’s assume that everything is fine and that the match official isn’t overly concerned. However, it was an odd and completely unnecessary brouhaha. After hitting his third into the center of the green, he leaves with par.

At the 13th hole, which is 184 yards long and par-three, Rory McIlroy’s tee shot lands pin high. His 20-foot birdie putt does not fall, but it shaves the cup. He and JJ Spaun, who on 14 races a chip seven feet past the flag but makes a perfect putt on the way back, are both still at -2.

The make percentage of Rory McIlroy’s eagle putt on 12 is 16 percent. He gives it an overly excited clack even though he correctly reads the line from right to left. It’s getting worse for him now that he’s six feet past. He tilts his head back in desperation, realizing that he has put himself through an unnecessary challenge in order to earn the birdie he deserves on his first two shots. Well done, he says, as he slides the slider from left to right into the cup. He takes the lead, and Shane Lowry, his playing partner and friend, ends up with bogey.

Spaun (5*) and McIlroy (3*) are -2.

Cole (6*), Åberg (4*), T Kim (5*), Clark (3), Woodland (3), S Kim (2*), Davis (2), and Norgaard (2*) receive a score of -1.

updated at 15:05 CEST.

McIlroy’s longest drive of the season was that one. It landed on the downslope in the ideal location, kicking straight into the fairway’s center and continuing to roll. He then pitches a 6-iron from 226 yards out, rolling slowly in the direction of the cup and pitching a few feet in front of the flag. A very good eagle shot appears for a brief moment, but the ball continues to travel on the glassy green and ends up 52 feet past the hole. That is really unfair. Nevertheless, everyone is aware of what to expect at Oakmont, and making two uphill putts for a birdie from the rear of the green isn’t the worst scenario. In contrast, consider Shane Lowry’s third-out of-a-bunker. After failing to make it to the green, he finds himself in trouble. On Sky Sports, Nick Dougherty apologises profusely after he effs and jeffs at such a volume. After all, the watershed is more than seven hours away.

Currently, Rory McIlroy is experiencing issues with his driver. Here is what it says. He tears a monster down the left side of the fairway after opening his shoulders on the 12th tee box. It lands on the downslope and continues, almost arriving at a gallery crossing point, which is presumably placed there because the USGA believes it is out of reach from the tee. Indeed, but only just. That is 392 yards gone. May the driver cause us all to experience such issues.

JJ Spaun is unable to make his 13-point birdie putt. However, he is now the only leader of the US Open after Ludvig Åberg messes up the par-five 12th hole, hitting the pin with his third and hitting sand before only splashing out into the round of 15. He does a fantastic job of making the putt coming back and keeping the damage to bogey after bundling his chip eight feet past the hole. While Eric Cole makes birdies at 12 and 14, Adam Scott recovers from an opening bogey at 10 with birdies at 11 and 12. Top-level changes occur!

Spaun (4*) -2.

-1 Cole (5*), Scott (3*), McIlroy (2*), Åberg (3*), and S Kim (2*).

The 2013 winner and runner-up in two of the previous three majors, Justin Rose, almost exhausts a lengthy left-to-right slider at 11. He has read Rory McIlroy, and the Masters champion is making a valiant attempt to break into the red figures. The runner-up in this year’s Players, JJ Spaun, eases his tee shot to ten feet on the par-three 13th hole, setting up another chance for himself after birdieing the par-five 12th. This is no small accomplishment considering the pin is tucked away in an awkward spot back left, surrounded by sand.

-2: Åberg (2), Spaun (3*).

-1: Fitzpatrick (1), McIlroy (2).

The 2022 champion Matt Fitzpatrick drains a swinger across 1 that is 30 feet from right to left. With assurance, he walked that in. Tommy Fleetwood, meanwhile, drove into a native area down the left of two and was penalized again, this time for the second time in his first two holes. He is already +2 on a 5-5 start.

The newest addition to the career-slam club, Rory McIlroy, is out and about. When you take iron off the tee, the driver isn’t a problem, but he’s currently having trouble with it. After launching his first shot down the middle of ten, he knocks his approach to twelve feet. He has a good chance of making an opening birdie, but he favors the right-to-left slider excessively. The dream is gone. Par, and the same is true of his teammates Shane Lowry and Justin Rose. a summit gathering of European rulers.

revised at 14:08 CEST.

At his first US Open last year, Ludvig Åberg was ahead going into the weekend. He made a good debut, finishing tied for 12th. Following a birdie at 10 this year, he wed from 140 yards to three feet at 11 and cleaned up for another, putting him ahead after the first hour of play. Three players are below par this morning, including Maxwell Moldovan, the early leader, who bogeys two. There are 32 players on the course right now.

-2: Åberg (2*).

Moldan (2), Spaun (2*) -1.

The opening tee shot for the reigning champion, Bryson DeChambeau, is a fortunate break. On the left, he launches it in the direction of Fleetwood Country, but his ball lands on a path that the paying gamblers have already crossed. His second shot lands on the front of the green, but the ball is deflected to the right and brushes up against the fringe due to the camber. After his putt bobbles and races ten feet past the flag, he fails to make good contact. It’s a messy opening bogey for last year’s winner, and he can’t make the one coming back. “Misread!” he yells.

updated at 13:53 CEST.

Tommy Fleetwood very nearly won this title at Shinnecock Hills in 2018, but Brooks Koepka beat him with a final round score of 63. The runner-up from the previous year is hoping to improve this time around, but he’s not having the best start after hitting a tee shot at 1 into a ditch down the left. He must take a penalty drop and eventually makes a 12-foot putt to limit the damage to bogey. He’s +1.

Zac Blair, his playing partner, made the week’s first birdie with a 30-foot rake across 10 while Alistair Docherty was flailing around. But disregard that, as Maxwell Moldovan, competing in his fourth consecutive US Open, makes the first eagle of this 125th edition after holeing out from 189 yards (!) on 1. Additionally, it’s a shot that lands on the front of the green, seems to slow down to a stop, and then somehow keeps rolling in. Did anyone mention that the greens are lightning?

Moldovan (1). -2.

Blair (2*), Spaun (1*), and Åberg (1*) are at -1.

It was updated at 13:40 CEST.

As we begin, let’s acknowledge the week’s first double bogey. Greetings to Alistair Docherty, who may be the first but will undoubtedly not be the last. In a short amount of time, the 31-year-old Washington State regular on the Korn Ferry Tour needs two tries to chip up onto the green from a short-sided position on 10.

Some professionals were questioned by the DP World Tour socials earlier this week about what an 18-handicapper would shoot at Oakmont this week. Bryson DeChambeau estimated 100, but that only includes the front nine, while the most generous estimate was 120. Many of them had lost all their balls and were positive they would have to walk in.

Regarding the professionals, consider the most recent US Opens to be hosted here. In 2007, Angel Cabrera prevailed with a final score of +5. Shane Lowry led by four strokes going into the last round of the 2016 tournament, but he shot 76 and allowed Dustin Johnson to pass. With its jungle rough, upturned-saucer greens, and excitable stimpmeter needle, this place produces the best mincemeat. Ben Hogan, for heaven’s sake, had to manage the lowest winning total at a US Open, which is -5. (To be fair, Ernie Els and Johnny Miller both won with -5, with Miller shooting the first-ever major 63 in the process, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. ).

Consequently, this should be enjoyable. It will, indeed. The times are listed below (unless otherwise noted, all times are BST; (a) indicates amateur). The game is on!

beginning with hole 1.

11:45 Matt Vogt, Kevin Velo, and Trent Phillips.

Doug Ghim, Chandler Blanchet, and Alvaro Ortiz (Mex) at 11:56.

12.07 (a) Justin B. and Evan Beck. Maxwell Moldovan Hicks.

12.18 Tommy Fleetwood (Eng), Keegan Bradley, and Harris English.

Xander Schauffele, Bryson DeChambeau, and Jose Luis Ballester (Spa) score 12 points.

Gary Woodland, Wyndham Clark, and Matthew Fitzpatrick (Eng) at 12:40.

Matt McCarty, Robert MacIntyre (Sco), and Akshay Bhatia 12.51.

13.02 Thomas Detry (Bel), Davis Thompson, and Cameron Davis (Aus).

Richard Bland (Eng), Trevor Gutschewski (a), and Lanto Griffin 13.13.

Sam Stevens, Ryan Gerard, and Edoardo Molinari (Ita) score 13 points (24).

13:35 (a) Thorbjoern Olesen (Den), Noah Kent, and Thriston Lawrence (Rsa).

Jinichiro Kozuma (Jpn), (a) Chase Johnson, and Cameron Tankersley, 13:46.

13:57 Riley Lewis, Brady Calkins, and Philip Barbaree.

Emiliano Grillo (Arg), Frederic Lacroix (Fra), and Sam Bairstow (Eng) at 17:30.

17:41 Ryan Fox (NZL), Joe Highsmith, and Byeong-Hun An (Kor).

17:52 Jacob Bridgeman, Adam Schenk, and Victor Perez (Fra).

Justin Thomas, Min-Woo Lee (Aus), and Brooks Koepka at 18.03.

18.14 Denny McCarthy, Nicolas Echavarria (Col), and Sam Burns.

18:25 Scottie Scheffler, Collin Morikawa, and Viktor Hovland (Nor).

18:36 Corey Conners (Canada), Patrick Reed, and Jason Day (Australia).

18.47 Joaquin Niemann (Chi), Bud Cauley, and Daniel Berger.

18:58 Chris Kirk, Mackenzie Hughes (Can), and Tony Finau.

19.09 Benjamin James (a), Stephan Jaeger (Ger), and Rasmus Hoejgaard (Den).

19.20 Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen (Den), Laurie Canter (Eng), and (a) Justin Hastings (Cay).

19:31 Emilio Gonzalez (Mexico), Roberto Diaz (Mexico), and (a) Frankie Harris.

Grant Haefner, George Kneiser, and Joey Herrera at 19:42.

beginning with hole 10.

Scott Vincent (Zim), Zachary Blair, and Alistair Docherty at 11:45.

11.56 Jordan Smith (Eng), Eric Cole, and Jacques Kruyswijk (Rsa).

Taylor Pendrith (Can), Joo-Hyung Kim (Kor), and J. J. spaun.

12.18 Adam Scott (Aus), Ludvig Aaberg (Sweden), and Hideki Matsuyama (Jpn).

Andrew Novak, Ben Griffin, and Maverick McNealy, 12:29.

12:40 Justin Rose (Eng), Shane Lowry (Irl), and Rory McIlroy (Irl).

Si-Woo Kim (Kor), Lucas Glover, and Patrick Cantlay at 12:51.

13:02 Australians Cameron Smith, Phil Mickelson, and Brian Harman.

Niklas Noergaard (Den), Justin Lower, and Brian Campbell 13.13.

13:24 Davis Riley, Jackson Koivun, and Johnny Keefer (a).

13.35 Michael La Sasso, Mark Hubbard, and James Hahn.

Joakim Lagergren (Sweden), Chris Gotterup, and Mason Howell (a) 13.46.

13.57 Lance Simpson, Zachary Bauchou, and Jackson Buchanan.

17:30 Will Chandler, Takumi Kanaya (Jpn), and Andrea Pavan (Ita).

Preston Summerhays, Guido Migliozzi (Ita), and Bryan Lee at 17.41 (a).

17:52 Max Greyserman, Matt Wallace (Eng), and Erik van Rooyen (Rsa).

18.03 Nick Taylor (Can), Russell Henley, and Christiaan Bezuidenhout (Rsa).

18:14 Jordan Spieth, Dustin Johnson, and Jon Rahm (Spa).

18.25 Sepp Straka (Aut), Sung-Jae Im (Kor), and Tyrrell Hatton (Eng).

18.36 Hoge, J. Tom. The T. Poston, Young Cameron.

18.47 Jhonattan Vegas (Ven), Matthieu Pavon (Fra), and Michael Kim.

Aaron Rai (Eng), Marc Leishman (Aus), and Nick Dunlap (18.58).

Carlos Ortiz (Mex), Yuta Sugiura (Jpn), and Matthew Jordan (Eng) 19.09.

19.20 (a) Zachery Pollo, Ryan McCormick, and Trevor Cone.

19.31 James Nicholas, Riki Kawamoto (Jpn), and (a) Tyler Weaver (Eng).

19:42 Austen Truslow, Harrison Ott, and George Duangmanee.

Posted at 13:17 CEST.