d Number 1 Adam Scott’s U.S Open foray began without a dash of luck on Thursday with the Queenslander shooting a 3-over par 73 in the afternoon conditions at Pinehurst No.2.
Scott mixed four bogies and a single birdie for his 73, which leaves him in a tie for 68th with fellow Aussies Geoff Ogilvy, Jason Day and Rod Pampling.
“I’m a little disappointed. I think I played a little better than what I ended up shooting. Around this kind of golf course, I just put it down to my short game not being spot on today. A couple of times I missed greens, I didn't get up and down. It wasn't really that hard to, but you have to scramble hard at a U.S. Open, and especially this one. But not too much damage done, either,” Scott said.
“I thought I was more aggressive than I thought I would be. I got off to a nice start and was hitting a lot of nice shots. It doesn't take much, you know, a couple of good shots went over greens. And you hit a good shot and you don't get up and down, it's a big swing for not doing too much wrong. But that's just the way it is. I think even though it was a little softer, you can't force it too much. You don't have that many wedges in your hand,” Scott added.
Victorian Aaron Baddeley is the leading Aussie, finishing in a tie for 16th after the opening round with an even par 70. Amateur Oliver Goss posted a 1-over par 71 to be tied in 36th place with John Senden.
German Martin Kaymer took an early hold of the U.S. Open late on Thursday, shooting a 5-under par 65 in the opening round and taking a three-shot lead into Friday.
“I thought it was very playable. And even the afternoon, we could stop the ball fairly well on the greens. So I just didn't make many mistakes. I hit a lot of good golf shots. Finally I could make some putts on 15, 16 and 17. And on 18, so it was a really nice way to finish,” Kaymer said.
Kaymer, who won this year’s Players Championship in May, birdied three of the last five holes to shoot 31 on the back nine. He leads American Kevin Na, Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell and Zimbabwe’s Brendon De Jonge by a stroke. American Fran Quinn is also at 2-under and is still on the course.
A large group of players is at 1-under, including Brandt Snedeker, Henrik Stenson, Matt Kuchar, Jordan Spieth, Brendon Todd and Hideki Matsuyama.
Brooks Koepka, a former Florida State player, eagled the par-5 fifth to briefly take sole possession of the lead and is at even par. Snedeker was at 4-under at one point in the morning before a 38 on the back nine left with at 1-under for the day.
Phil Mickelson is two shots back with a round of 70. Webb Simpson and Rory McIlroy are both at 71.
Aussies on the leaderboard
1.Martin Kaymer (GER) 65 -5 (LEADER)
T16. Aaron Baddeley 70 E
T36. Oliver Goss (a) 71 +1
T36. John Senden 71 +1
T68. Jason Day 73 +3
T68. Adam Scott 73 +3
T68. Rod Pampling 73 +3
T68. Geoff Ogilvy 73 +3
T88. Matt Jones 74 +4
T134. Brady Watt 77 +7
T143. Aron Price 78 +8
T148. Robert Allenby 79 +9