Dustin Johnson and Jordan Spieth rue poor putting at US Open
By Ali Stafford in Wisconsin
Last Updated: 15/06/17 9:26pm
Dustin Johnson and Jordan Spieth were both left frustrated by off-key performances with the putter during a disappointing start to the US Open.
Spieth stuttered to a one-over 73 in benign conditions at Erin Hills to fall eight strokes adrift of early pacesetter Rickie Fowler, with defending champion Johnson a further two shots back.
Looking to become the first player since Curtis Strange to win back-to-back US Open titles, Johnson double-bogeyed the 14th and dropped another at the par-four next.
The world No 1, who only arrived in Wisconsin on Tuesday afternoon after fiancee Paulina Gretzky gave birth to their second son, cancelled out a birdie-two at the 16th with a blemish at the next to reach the turn in 39.
Johnson then failed to make any progress over his second nine, failing to convert a number of opportunities along the closing stretch to sign for a three-over 75.
"I just didn't putt very well, I missed a lot of really good opportunities," Johnson said. "That was the big key for me. If I don't three-putt, I shoot even.
"If I just make one or two of the good looks I have, it's a couple under. I didn't hit it great, but I hit it good enough to shoot a good score.
"It wasn't that I was hitting bad putts, my speed was a little off. I felt like I was hitting good putts, but they just didn't go in the hole."
Spieth picked up a shot at the par-five 11th but failed to add any further gains in his round, missing a number of birdie opportunities before back-to-back blemishes over the fourth and fifth.
"I hit the ball phenomenal, just didn't make anything," Spieth said. "I missed one fairway today, which is the best driving round that I've had maybe in my life.
"I had 15 looks at birdie today and all of them were actual makeable putts and I only made one of them. Just a really off day putting, but I'll go figure it out."
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