Hadwin leads McIlroy, 4 others by 1 after opening round at U.S. Open
Adam Hadwin shot a 4-under 66 on Thursday to take a one-stroke lead during the first round of the U.S. Open at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts.
Rory McIlroy is a part of a group of five tied for second at 3-under while Dustin Johnson headlines another pack of players two behind at 2-under.
| Place | Player | Round 1 score | Total to par |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adam Hadwin | 66 | -4 |
| T2 | Rory McIlroy | 67 | -3 |
| T2 | Callum Tarren | 67 | -3 |
| T2 | MJ Daffue | 67 | -3 |
| T2 | Joel Dahmen | 67 | -3 |
| T2 | David Lingmerth | 67 | -3 |
| T7 | Dustin Johnson | 68 | -2 |
| T7 | Matt Fitzpatrick | 68 | -2 |
| T7 | Justin Rose | 68 | -2 |
| T7 | Hayden Buckley | 68 | -2 |
| T7 | Aaron Wise | 68 | -2 |
| T7 | Brian Harman | 68 | -2 |
| T7 | Matthew NeSmith | 68 | -2 |
Hadwin's 66 on Thursday was the lowest round the 34-year-old has shot in any of the 63 major championship rounds he's played in his career.
The Canadian has never finished inside the top 20 at a major. His highest finish at a U.S. Open was in 2011 when he finished tied for 39th.
The winner that year was a young McIlroy, who grabbed his first major win at just 22 years old. Over a decade later the Northern Irishman has added three other major wins to his belt, the most recent one being the PGA Championship in 2014. The time between now and his last major win is a fact not lost on the 33-year-old.
"It's been eight years since I won a major, and I just want to get my hands on one again," McIlroy said, according to Golf.com.
Matt Fitzpatrick is another player seeking a big win this week. Despite having international success, the 27-year-old has yet to win on the PGA TOUR.
In 2013, Fitzpatrick won the U.S. Amateur at The Country Club, which is hosting this week's event. He became the first English winner of the event in over a century.
On Thursday, Fitzpatrick shot a 68 and is part of the group two back of Hadwin. With a win this week, Fitzpatrick would join Jack Nicklaus as the only other player to win both the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Open at the same course, according to Twenty First Group's Justin Ray.
Hadwin, Fitzpatrick, and McIlroy all played in the Canadian Open at St. George's Golf and Country Club last week where McIlroy successfully defended his title. In total, seven players who are within two strokes of the lead - and the leader himself - played at St. George's last week.
Defending champion Jon Rahm made a 21-foot putt for birdie at the last hole to card a 1-under 69 on Thursday. Others players three back of the lead include Collin Morikawa, Adam Scott, and Justin Thomas.
New England native Keegan Bradley is even par through 18 holes at The Country Club.
Hadwin will tee off for Friday's second round alongside Jim Furyk and amateur Nick Dunlap at 8:24 a.m. ET.