Dustin Johnson and Henrik Stenson of Sweden posted 5-under-par 65s during the morning wave when Chambers Bay seemed to be a little more receptive and were tied for the lead after one round of the 115th U.S. Open at University Place, Wash.
Johnson, who has never won a major title and has had his share of heartbreak in the Grand Slam events, carded two early birdies after starting at No. 10 before adding four more in a span of seven holes on the front nine.
DJ had sole possession of the lead until taking his only bogey on the ninth hole.
“The course was set up really nicely and it was very fair,” said Johnson, whose tie for sixth in the Masters two months ago was his sixth top-10 finish in the majors. “Some of the holes were set up tough, but other pin locations were gettable as well.
“I made a bad swing on nine, but it was probably my only bad swing of the day, so I just need to stay in contention as the tournament goes on. … I drove it well, hit my irons well and had good looks at birdie all day.”
Stenson, trying to become the first Swedish male to win a golf major, bounced back from two bogeys on the front nine with four birdies on the last five holes.
Patrick Reed, who has won four times in the last 22 months on the PGA Tour but does not have a major title, birdied his last hole to shoot 66 and was in solo third.
Matt Kuchar, yet another player in search of his first major title, had his only bogey on the fifth hole in a 67 that left him in a tie for fifth with Ben Martin, who eagled the 12th hole, and amateur Brian Campbell of Irvine and the University of Illinois.
Masters champion Jordan Spieth made three birdies in a row through No. 13 and was tied for seventh at 68 with Jason Day of Australia, Jason Dufner, Cody Gribble, Francesco Molinari of Italy, Marc Warren of Scotland and Joost Luiten of the Netherlands.
Phil Mickelson, trying to complete the Career Grand Slam after finishing second in the U.S. Open six times, was tied for 14th at 69, while three-time U.S. Open champ Tiger Woods opened with an 80 that included only one birdie and was tied for 150th.
Woods beat only two players in the field, including Rickie Fowler of Murrieta, one of the pre-tournament favorites, who had an 81 that included an eagle on the 12th hole.
Defending champion Martin Kaymer of Germany carded a 72 and was in a tie for 54th that included top-ranked Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland.
