OAKMONT, Pa. — Raise your hand if you predicted that world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, winner of three of his last four starts, including the PGA and Memorial, would make six bogeys and shoot 3-over-par in the opening round of the U.S. Open Thursday at Oakmont.
Raise it again if you figured Rory McIlroy, still fresh off his Masters victory to complete the career Grand Slam, for a 4-over 76 after shooting 41 on his back nine.
Again, if you thought defending champion Bryson DeChambeau, who’s seemingly found the answer at major championships, would struggle to a 3-over 73.
And again if you predicted a 9-over 79 for Shane Lowry, who not only entered the week in good form but finished runner-up at the 2016 U.S. Open at Oakmont.
And yet again if you saw Dustin Johnson, the 2016 U.S. Open winner at Oakmont, for a 5-over 75.
Surely, you picked J.J. Spaun, whose best finish in the eight major championships he’s played was a tie for 23rd three years ago at the PGA, along with three missed cuts, to be the first-round leader he is after shooting a 4-under-par 66.
If you had Spaun in first place after 18 holes, then you likely also had South African Thriston Lawrence in second place, one shot back after his 3-under-par 67.
And Si Woo Kim next at 2-under par.
Indeed, Oakmont did not produce a stacked, star-studded leaderboard at the top through 18 holes, but that’s exactly the point: 18 holes.
Long way to go.
And, it should be noted that some superstars lurk behind the leaders, including five-time major champion (including two U.S. Opens) Brooks Koepka seemingly has found his game, shooting a 2-under-par 68.
Jon Rahm, who, like Koepka, plays on LIV Golf, is 1-under and right there, along with Ben Griffin, who has been in fantastic form this season, winning two PGA Tour events.
Like with Koepka and Rahm, there is some proper pedigree with major championship hardware just four shots back at even par in Collin Morikawa, Jordan Spieth and Adam Scott.
Cameron Young, who grew up playing his youth golf at Sleepy Hollow in Westchester and is seeking his first PGA Tour win, is also even par a week after nearly winning the Canadian Open on Sunday.
Young got into the field via open qualifying.
“This definitely makes me feel good, makes me feel confident that I’m leading the tournament,’’ the 34-year-old Spaun said. “But there’s plenty more golf left. I’m trying to feel like I have nothing to lose.’’
Rahm, like Koepka, hopes he’s found his game.
“Just a really good round,’’ Rahm said. “Everything felt good. I’m extremely happy. I played some incredible golf to shoot 1-under, which we don’t usually say. I think I did really good at staying patient.’’
Rahm, who’s won a U.S. Open, was forced to miss last year’s at Pinehurst with a foot injury.
“You want to be there, and you want to compete,’’ he said.
“The entirety of the battle is hitting fairways,’’ Young said. “Obviously, it’s never going to be easy, but if I drive it well I’ll have a lot of chances for sure.
“Any time you tee it up in a major championship, you’ve got all kinds of history and all kinds of opportunity. I know they’ve hosted a lot U.S. Opens here (this is the 10th U.S. Open). I just make the most of anywhere. There’s been a lot of great golf played here and great champions made here.’’
One of those is DeChambeau, who said afterward he “Just didn’t get anything out of’’ his round.,
“This golf course can come up and get you pretty quick and you’ve just got to be on your game, and it got me,’’ he said. “I wasn’t fully on my game. Pretty disappointed with how I played. It’s not too far off. Just got to get the putting a little bit more dialed, and I’ll be right there because 3-over could have easily been 2-under today.
“I’m looking to shoot under par and give myself a better chance going into this weekend. It was a brutal test of golf, but one that I’m excited for tomorrow.’’