The American Justin Thomas takes the helm of the tournament thanks to a sublime 65 (-5), record here in a US Open, and ahead of a length the Belgian Thomas Pieters and his compatriots Patrick Reed and Matthew Wolff. Author of a 71 (+1), Romain Langasque occupies 33rd place ahead of Mike Lorenzo-Vera (71st at +3). Victor Perez is 120th at +6 while Paul Barjon posted a score of +5 after 16 holes before the tournament was stopped for lack of visibility.
Justin Thomas, author of a solid -5 (65), took US Open orders, second Grand Slam lift of the season, followed by the Americans Patrick Reed, one of two golfers with Will Zalatoris to have a hole in one, and Matthew Wolff as well as the Belgian Thomas Pieters. On the demanding and versatile course of Winged Foot, fortunes have been mixed for the favorites. If Rory McIlroy is well set in ambush (5th to -3), Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau (14th to -1) also remain in contact. The world number one Dustin Johnson and Tiger Woods on the other hand struggled (73rd to +3).
It was around hole n ° 7 that the shivers ran through the few people present on the site when, first Reed, then Zalatoris then succeeded in their “hole in one”. There is no doubt that if the coronavirus had not imposed a closed session for this 120th edition, the clamors of the public would have worthily accompanied these superb shots. “It’s a shame that there weren’t any fans, because it would have been an incredible moment, crazy especially here in New York where the public is in full swing. But hey, an “ace” remains an “ace”, I take! “Exclaimed the winner of the Masters 2018.
Both swallowed this 151 meter long par 3 to pull off an eagle, imitating their compatriot Mark McCumber (at hole # 10 in 1984) and Swede Peter Hedblom (at # 3 in 2006), who did the same at Winged Foot for the US Open. If for Zalatoris, this outburst was the only one, flanked by three bogeys (33rd, +1), for Reed, who had started rather badly by committing a double bogey to the 5, it was accompanied by four birdies.
With a card of 66, the Texan shares second place with his compatriot Matthew Wolff and the surprising Belgian Thomas Pieters, revelation of the 2016 Ryder Cup in Hazeltine (Minnesota) with the European team led by Darren Clarke. This trio is one shot from Justin Thomas, who managed to do better by making his sixth birdie of the day on the 18th hole (against a single bogey). “It’s one of the best laps I’ve done, from tee to green. I am really proud of the patience I have shown and my strength, ”said the 3rd player in the world, winner of the PGA Championship 2017 and recently the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational.
“A 65 card is great no matter where you play, but even better here at Winged Foot. I kept the right frame of mind, I was focused by just sticking to my routine and playing each move without projecting myself on the next, ”he added. Two lengths away is another big favorite, Rory McIlroy (5th, -3), joined at the end of the day by the Englishman Lee Westwood and the South African Louis Oosthuizen.
“I had a very good start, I hit the ball well, controlled the game. A little less then. I ended up a little disappointed, but if someone had told me I would do 67, I would have taken it, ”commented the Northern Irishman, young dad of a Poppy born two weeks ago. Tiger Woods, who is looking to win a Major 16th, has constantly fought not to be unhooked after six bogeys compensated by five birdies. But a double bogey at 18 dropped him to 71st place (+3). “I needed to finish this first round well, and I did not do it,” regretted the star, who is still doing better than Collin Morikawa (122nd), the winner of the last USPGA, author of a card of 76 (+6), 11 moves from the leader.
Four French people are present this week at Mamaroneck and it is Romain Langasque who is doing the best so far. The Azurean, who qualified in winning the Wales Open in August(European Tour), signed a card of 71 (+1). Here he is 33rd on the leaderboard ahead of Mike Lorenzo-Vera (71st at +3 with Tiger Woods, Jordan Spieth, Justin Rose and Dustin Johnson). Further on, in 109th place still very provisional, we find Paul Barjon. The member of the Korn Ferry Tour (the second US division) could not go to the end of this first round, stopped at 17 by darkness when he posted a score of +5. Finally, leaving early Thursday in Mamaroneck, Victor Perez conceded a heavy 76 (+6) with seven bogeys against a single birdie. That’s as much as Colin Morikawa, surprise winner of the USPGA a month ago in San Francisco. And it’s better than Phil Mickelson, author of a terrible 79 (+9). The left-hander from San Diego had yet started with two birdies on his first two holes before letting go with eleven bogeys … The one who took second place here in 2006 by the fault of a double bogey on the 18th and last hole Sunday has already said goodbye to a dream of victory. The only one missing from her Grand Slam record!
With AFP
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