Open Championship: Round 1 - Spieth strong, but Dustin not dwellin'

Dustin Johnson sleeps easy.

Twenty-five days after his calamitous three-putt par on the weather-beaten 18th green at Chambers Bay, Johnson squashed the narrative and the Open Championship field with an opening-round 7-under 65 – his lowest score at a major, ever.

But more impressive than setting aside internal ruin to card the third bogey-free major championship round of his career was his vindictive, head-to-head conquest over the man to which he handed the major championship trophy his mantle still lacks, U.S. Open winner Jordan Spieth, in Thursday's marquee grouping.

Johnson was his massive self off the tee, and ever-deadly with the approach, taking full advantage of scoring opportunities as he scorched the front nine. But his critical moments came in preservation of his early-round progress and with the conditions playing tough, when he rolled in mid-range par saves on 16 and 17.

Spieth, though, curled what may prove to be a tournament-altering birdie into the bottom of the cup on 18 to cap a ho-hum round (by his standards) that sees him two strokes off the lead. He started hot, birdieing six of his first 11 holes, but was trailing Johnson on the scoreboard, and playing well behind him off the tee for most of the morning.

But it's important to put his performance in proper perspective. Spieth's 67 was recorded in his first competitive round at the intricate Old Course; the angle of his learning curve clearly less concave than the path of his birdie roll on 18.

Finally, from a quick study to an erosion of talent and tournament relevancy, Tiger Woods gave away many of the strokes his peers gained on the front nine, requiring 40 whacks to reach the turn. He would eventually settle into his round, playing the final eight holes at 1-under, but remains 11 strokes off the lead and well back of an elite group nipping at Johnson's heels.

And Tiger's struggles, unlike those who were unlucky to start in the afternoon, can't be attributed to the conditions.

Leaderboard

Notables

Zach Johnson - Though his choice of headgear was questionable, the other Johnson's performance can't be challenged. Zach was dialed in, but couldn't drop the birdie putt required to match Dustin before suffering his first setback on 17.

Jason Day - Always a factor, but not yet a major champion, Day authored a bogey-free 66 to creep to within one shot of the lead, and was one of the few who were just as effective on the back nine.

Louis Oosthuizen - The last man to win an Open at St. Andrews had another successful jaunt, finishing two strokes off the lead. Oosty is a cumulative (and ridiculous) 48 strokes below par in his last 11 rounds at the Old Course – his worst score over that span being a 71.

Phil Mickelson - Lefty was gritting his teeth and battling through the frigid(ish) conditions all afternoon, but the war waged on the Old Course saw the victories only narrowly outweigh the pitfalls. He finished 2-under.

Rickie Fowler - A trendy pick before the tournament after his Scottish Open win, Fowler received more attention for his attire – an over-sized, blueberry-colored all-weather barrier – than his performance. He finished without a birdie, but managed to score even par.

Tweet of the Round

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