Rory McIlroy and Danny Willett slip to four over at US Open
By Keith Jackson
Last Updated: 17/06/16 10:09am
Rory McIlroy and Danny Willett both failed to take advantage of the soft conditions at Oakmont on a weather-disrupted opening day of the US Open.
McIlroy and Willett were both struggling on four over when play was suspended for the third and final time, while the third member of the marquee group, Rickie Fowler, birdied the first before slumping to six over after 12 holes.
US Open leaderboard
Masters champion Willett will face a 10-foot birdie putt on the 13th green when play resumes early on Friday morning, but McIlroy had already tapped in for his fifth bogey of the round at the par-three after he bunkered his tee shot and splashed out to 23 feet.
McIlroy paid the price for missing the fairway at both the second and third holes and was unable to go at the green in two each time as he slipped to two over, although he pulled one back at the long fourth after a stunning 303-yard second followed by two putts from over 60 feet.
But the 2011 champion missed excellent chances at the next two holes, and his frustration was evident on the seventh when he fluffed a chip from the back of the green and missed the putt for par.
Another birdie opportunity went begging at the 11th, and he ran up a six at the long 12th after a tugged drive and a splayed three-wood into the crowd to the right of the green before his mistake at the next left him seven shots off the lead.
Willett made a bright start with a birdie at the second, but he bogeyed the next two holes and dropped further shots at eight and nine - completing an outward 38 with his third three-putt of the front nine.
The Sheffield star also took six at the 12th, but he will hope to start repairing the damage with his first shot of the resumption after knocking a delightful 185-yard tee shot to 10 feet at the 13th.
But Willett's fellow Englishman Lee Westwood was just two off the lead on one under and played one of the shots of the day at the 14th - his fifth - when his 124-yard wedge pitched six feet right of the hole and spun into the cup for a thrilling eagle.
Westwood bogeyed the first and second, but he got back under the card when he holed a 20-foot putt for birdie at the long fourth, and he was in the middle of the fifth fairway when play was called off for the day.
Matt Fitzpatrick got off to a flying start when he slam-dunked his bunker escape straight into the hole for an unlikely birdie at the third, and he picked up another shot when he drained a huge 40-foot putt at the sixth.
But the British Masters champion bogeyed three of the next four holes, although he hauled himself back to level par thanks to a pure 200-yard strike to three feet at the 12th.
Meanwhile, defending champion Jordan Spieth was one over par with seven holes remaining, and playing partner Bryson DeChambeau was challenging for the lead after four birdies in seven holes before running up back-to-back double-bogeys at the 18th and first.
