ERIN, Wis. (AP) The USGA wants to get away from references of the U.S. Open being the toughest test in golf, preferring instead the ”ultimate test.”
The question is whether Erin Hills delivered either in the opening round.
Rickie Fowler never came seriously close to a bogey on his way to a 7-under 65, which matched the U.S. Open record to par for the opening round. Jack Nicklaus and Tom Weiskopf each shot 7-under 63 in the first round at Baltusrol in the 1980 U.S. Open. They were three shots clear of anyone else.
Fowler only had a one-shot lead over Paul Casey, who started eagle-birdie, and Xander Schauffele, a rookie on the PGA Tour who is playing his first major championship.