US Open: Tommy Fleetwood off to flying start at Erin Hills
Thursday 15 June 2017 21:49, UK
Tommy Fleetwood was delighted to take advantage of the "best of conditions" at Erin Hills as he started his second US Open campaign with a superb 67.
Fleetwood, who finished tied for 27th in his debut in the event at Chambers Bay two years ago, made five birdies and kept a bogey off his card to lie just two shots behind early pace-setter Rickie Fowler.
The Abu Dhabi champion looked confident from the off and began with a 20-foot putt for birdie at the 10th, and he converted a pure tee-shot to six feet at the 13th before reeling off three in a row around the turn and holing a number of clutch par putts over the closing stages of his round.
"We had the best of the conditions," said the 26-year-old. "This morning the breeze was the perfect amount, it wasn't strong enough to have any effect. The course was as receptive as it's going to be, and we just had a very good start through 11 holes. I never really tried to make a birdie, which you can't in a US Open.
"But towards the end, I holed some great putts for par. No matter how fast you start or how many birdies you make the pars ones are the ones that keep you in it.
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"You're always looking to plot it around and you're looking at the places you can hit it where you're best going to make par or the places in the scoring areas. You never look into the tucked pins, you want the right mix all the time. That's kind of how you approach it.
"You don't really think about shooting five under at the US Open, so for Rickie to shoot seven under is ridiculous! It was clearly a very good morning for scoring, and I'll take five under.
"It is a ball-striker's golf course overall and I did well today, but if I'd missed a few par putts, I'd be one or two under after a really good start. You still have to make the crucial putts."
Westwood, who is making his 18th US Open appearance this week, also made five birdies but also ran up a double-bogey six during a rollercoaster back nine, although he then parred every hole on the front nine to stay at three under.
The English veteran, who has posted five top-10s in the tournament since his debut 20 years ago, started with a birdie at the 10th but slipped over the card after he took three to reach the green at the 12th and then three-putted.
But he bounced back with a huge 45-foot putt for birdie at the next, and he almost holed his approach to the 15th before knocking another sweet iron to six feet at the next and picking up his fourth gain in six holes at the 18th.
Meanwhile, US Open debutant Aaron Rai enjoyed the distinction of being in a tie for the lead when he birdied the opening hole, although he found the going tough and slipped to three over before finishing on a high with a brilliant eagle at the last.
The 22-year-old, who won the 36-hole qualifier at Walton Heath late last month, said: "It was great. The atmosphere was amazing. Even though we were out very early in the morning there were good crowds from the very start. A lot of the grandstands had quite a few people in as well and you heard some pretty loud noises around the course.
"It was an amazing experience although I wasn't aware of sharing the lead after one hole - maybe 71 holes early!"
