Michael Thompson Leads First Round at US Open

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Michael Thompson carded a 4-under 66 on Thursday in his second U.S. Open appearance to take a three-stroke lead over five players, including 14-time Major Champion Tiger Woods. This marks the first time Thompson has held the first-round lead on the PGA TOUR. He shared the second-round lead at the 2011 RBC Canadian Open before rounds of 74-76 led to a T34 finish. He was the outright third-round leader at the 2011 McGladrey Classic before a final-round 1-under 69 led to a third-place finish.

On the PGA TOUR in 2012, the first-round leader/co-leader has won just twice (George McNeill/Puerto Rico Open and Zach Johnson/Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial).

Tiger Woods opened with a 1-under 69, marking the first time he

has broken par in the opening round at the U.S. Open since 2002. His 67 that year was also his last opening round in the 60s at the U.S. Open prior to Thursday. Woods, No. 3 in the FedExCup standings, is tied with Hale Irwin for fourth all-time with three U.S. Open victories, trailing four-time winners Willie Anderson, Robert Trent Jones Jr., Ben Hogan and Jack Nicklaus.

Nick Watney had an albatross on the par-5 17th hole on Thursday en route to a 1-under 69. It represents the first time he has broken par in 15 rounds at the U.S. Open (six starts). He owns two made cuts here (T60/2008, 76/2010). While records for aces and double eagles aren’t available for all years at the U.S. Open, Watney’s albatross is the third in the USGA record book:

• Watney holed out with a 5-iron from 190 yards on the 17th hole during the first round in 2012.
• Shaun Micheel holed out with a 3-iron from 239 yards on the sixth hole during the final round in 2010.
• T.C. Chen holed out from 256 yards with a 3-wood on the second hole during the first round in 1985.

Justin Rose’s 1-under 69 is just his second sub-70 score in 17 rounds at the U.S. Open (R4/2003). He has two made cuts in six previous starts at the event, finishing T5 in his debut in 2003 and T10 in 2007.

David Toms carded a 1-under 69, just his third score in the 60s in 47 U.S. Open rounds (R1/69/2009, R2/67/2003).

Phil Mickelson opened with a 6-over 76, equaling his highest first round in 22 starts at the U.S. Open (1996).

Rory McIlroy posted a 7-over 77 on Thursday, equaling his highest score in 11 rounds at the U.S. Open (R2/2010). He is making his fourth U.S. Open start (T10-2009, MC-2010, 1-2011). McIlroy is attempting to become the sixth player to win the U.S. Open in back-to-back years: Curtis Strange (1988-89), Ben Hogan (1950-51), Ralph Guldahl (1937-38), Bobby Jones (1929, 1930) and John McDermott (1911-12). Willie Anderson is the only player to win three straight U.S. Opens (1903-04-05).

Watson, winner of the 2012 Masters Tournament, opened with an 8-over 78 – his highest score in six U.S. Open appearances.

World No. 1 Luke Donald posted a 9-over 79 on Thursday. The U.S. Open is the only major that he does not have a top 10. He has three top 10s at the Masters, two at the PGA Championship and one at the British Open.

First-Round Leaderboard

Michael Thompson 66 (-4)

Tiger Woods 69 (-1)

David Toms 69 (-1)

Nick Watney 69 (-1)

Justin Rose 69 (-1)

Graeme McDowell 69 (-1)