WHILE YOU WERE ASLEEP: Adam Hadwin leads the U.S. Open and four other things you need to know from Brookline

The opening round of America’s 122nd national championship is in the books. Here are five takeaways to get you caught up on the key talking points from The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts.

Alternate Adam Hadwin leads by one

Adam Hadwin only learned on Monday that he was in the field for the third major of the year, replacing injured Englishman Paul Casey as the first alternate from the Dallas final qualifying site. Three days later, the 34-year-old Canadian is atop the 122nd U.S. Open leaderboard at -4.

A two-bogey, six-birdie 66 gives Hadwin, who won his only PGA Tour title back in 2017 and doesn’t have a great U.S. Open record (a best of T39), a one-stroke advantage heading into Friday from five players, Rory McIlroy the most conspicuous among them.

.@ahadwingolf‘s 4-under 66 on Thursday at The Country Club was his lowest career round in any major championship and earned him the @Lexus Top Performance of Day.#USOpen | #LexusGolf pic.twitter.com/VTr20DFxCS

— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 17, 2022

RELATED: Rory McIlroy has a sandy tantrum but emerges with his U.S. Open dream intact

Late confirmation of entry turned out to be a good omen at Brookline on Thursday with David Lingmerth among the five tied second following 67s; the Swedish world No.592 got his chance as an alternate when Martin Kaymer withdrew earlier in the week. South Africa’s MJ Daffue, American Joel Dahmen (who won his first PGA Tour title in March) and under-the-radar Englishman Callum Tarren are the other players on -3.
Never heard of Tarren? Us either. A bit of digging shows the 31-year-old is 445th in the OWGR, due largely to six pro runner-up finishes on the PGA Tour China, and had his best world ranking points haul via a T5 at the Puerto Rico Open in early March. A short-lived fairytale perhaps but then few gave local amateur Francis Ouimet a chance here in 1913 and he went on one of the most famous U.S. Open wins.

The #USOpen leaderboard is absolutely JAM PACKED after Round 1.

— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 17, 2022

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Matthew Fitzpatrick’s inability to close out PGA Tour events is starting to earn the 27-year-old Englishman an unwanted reputation stateside. Over here in DP World Tour territory, we know a different truth, evidenced in Dubai by the world No.18’s 2016 and 2020 wins at the DP World Tour Championship and five other European titles.

That Fitzpatrick started well in Brookline with a 68 for a share of seventh place is no surprise. He was T5 at last month’s PGA Championship, a major championship best, and contended at last week’s RBC Canadian Open. He is also intimately familiar with The Country Club, having captured the 2013 U.S. Amateur at the fabled layout.

A timely 3️⃣ for @MattFitz94 at the 17th hole. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/eUg73efE5P

— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 16, 2022

A bunch of lengthy putts holed shocked no one either although seeing him chipping cross-handed did raise eyebrows. Still, It seems only a matter of time before Fitzpatrick becomes a major champion.

For the record, major champions Dustin Johnson and Justin Rose, the latter despite fluffing a pitch shot out of a divot en route to a bogey on his penultimate hole, are among those tied seventh alongside Fitzpatrick.

.@MattFitz94 is in his happy place 🙌 pic.twitter.com/4afizya3A6

— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 16, 2022

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Lefty barely broke 80

 

Phil Mickelson owns an unwanted record of six-time runner-up finishes at the U.S. Open. After opening with an eight-over 78 Thursday, it seems there will be no further near-miss heartache in the one major championship Lefty needs for a career Grand Slam.  Indeed, this was a miserable 52nd birthday for the Saudi rebel whose putter is icy cold, highlighted by a four-putt double bogey on the par-3 6th. Phil being Phil, we suspect he celebrated nonetheless and we all know he isn’t short of a bob to get the party started.

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Jon Rahm’s defence of the Wannamaker Trophy is off to a sketchy start and through no fault of his own. The Spaniard signed for a one-under 69 but not before drama on the 18th when his ball was stolen. Thankfully it had already been marked in the rough and Rahm was able to find the green with his replacement sphere and bin the putt for a closing birdie.

Tag the friend you’d stop talking to forever in exchange for defending #USOpen champion @JonRahmPGA‘s swing!

4D swings are powered by @Cisco. pic.twitter.com/nICpGXpHrx

— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 16, 2022

“Somebody – I’m pretty sure I know who it was. I recognised the two kids that were running the opposite way with a smile on their face,” Rahm said laughing. “I’m 100 percent sure I saw the two kids who stole it.” Bizarre but all is well that ends well we guess.

Also signing for 69s? How about major champions Adam Scott, Justin Thomas, Gary Woodland and serial bigs contender Will Zalatoris who has rattled off cut, T6, 2nd, T8, cut, WD, T6 and 2nd placings in his previous eight major championship starts.

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We’re cheering on our Desert champions

We’re an unashamedly patriotic lot here at Worldwide Golf which explains our (reigning) Desert champions race within the wider U.S. Open race at Brookline. After the opening round, it’s advantage Viktor Hovland after the Norwegian Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic champion carded an even-par 70 for a share of 26th place. Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship winner Thomas Pieters returned a two-over 72 to be T57 while Ras Al Khaimah Classic winner Ryan Fox has work to do Friday to make the cut after a 74 left the Kiwi down in 102nd place. Dubai resident Adri Arnaus has even more ground to make up in the second round following a 76 which left the Spaniard T125.

Be honest! How intimidated would you be by this approach shot on 18?

No fuss for Hovland (+1) though 😏 #USOpen pic.twitter.com/bhxbUfEm8O

— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 16, 2022