The 115th U.S. Open takes place this week at Chambers Bay in University Place, Wash. GolfChannel.com is tracking the men’s second major of the season through on-site reporting and social media. For additional U.S. Open coverage, click here for full-field scores and click here for our Tiger Tracker. And click here for “Live From” air times. All-times for the U.S. Open tracker are Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).
11:45PM: That’s it for Day 1: Here’s a final look at the leaderboard, we’ll be back again tomorrow with more updates.
11:10PM: At least he can joke about it.
"The bright side is I kicked Rickie's butt today." – Tiger Woods joked after shooting 80 to Rickie Fowler's 81 in first round at #USOpen.
— Golf Central (@GolfCentral) June 19, 2015
10:57PM: Tiger shoots 80. Some unreal stats.
Tiger Woods now has more rounds in the 80s this season (3) than rounds in the 60s (2).
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) June 19, 2015
Rounds in 80s in Tiger's pro career
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) June 19, 2015
1996-2014 - 1 in 1,107 rounds
2015 - 3 in 15 rounds
15-year-old amateur Cole Hammer: 77
— Ryan Lavner (@RyanLavnerGC) June 19, 2015
14-time major winner Tiger Woods: 80
The 4th-highest score as a pro for Tiger. Two others were earlier this year.
— Doug Ferguson (@dougferguson405) June 19, 2015
10:50PM: Spieth, Day finish at 2 under par: Solid starts for two of the favorites coming into the week.
10:40PM: (Jaw drops)
Find the fairway at 18, then hits a nasty, cold-topped, slither-shank 3-wood that you won’t believe. He’s in a bunker that’s not in play.
— Tiger Tracker (@GCTigerTracker) June 19, 2015
10:35PM: Amateur Brian Campbell is closing strong: Two birdies in a row and he’s one off the lead.
10:20PM: Big names on the course at +1 include ... Kevin Kisner, Justin Rose, Billy Horschel, Zach Johnson and Jimmy Walker.
10:10PM: Finally, a birdie. Tiger’s now beating Fowler by a stroke.
Yeah, baby. Birdie….oh whatever. I can’t even fake it. 9 over. Needs par, par finish to break 80.
— Tiger Tracker (@GCTigerTracker) June 19, 2015
10:05PM: Day rebounds with a birdie on 16. He’s back to 3 under par, along with Ben Martin (thru 15).
9:50PM: Down, but not out: Some late miscues by Spieth and Day, but they’re still only three off the lead.
9:38PM: Just keeps getting worse. And he still has four holes left.
Annnd we're done here. After three straight whacks from the bunker, Tiger misses a 4-foot for a three-putt triple. Hello 80s.
— Tiger Tracker (@GCTigerTracker) June 19, 2015
9:34PM: Another birdie for Day, and he’s only one stroke behind Stenson and DJ.
9:20PM: Just a reminder, Hammer is 15 years old.
Three bogeys in a row. He’s now 7 over thru 13 holes. He’s also ahead of seven people. On the bright side he’s tied with Hammer and Fowler.
— Tiger Tracker (@GCTigerTracker) June 19, 2015
9:15PM: At 7 over par, Rickie Fowler’s had an awful day, but he almost aced the par-4 12th.
9:10PM: Here comes Jordan: That’s three birdies in a row for Jordan Spieth ...
9:01PM: Yeesh, not pretty ...
And he three putts it. Freakin’ three putts it. Blows the first 5 feet past, then never hits the hole. WTH? 6 over thru 12. #overit
— Tiger Tracker (@GCTigerTracker) June 19, 2015
8:57PM: Day’s going low: Jason Day adds another birdie on No. 12 to get to 3 under, two off the lead.
8:45PM: Look at that club fly! ICYMI, Tiger let his club go after hacking out of the rough on No. 8.
8:30PM: That’s a birdie for Spieth. After a short putt on the 11th, Spieth reaches under par for the first time in Round 1.
8:25PM: Some thoughts on Henrik Stenson, who shot a career-low in the majors on Thursday, a 5-under 65.
8:20PM: Pick up the pace. That’s what rules officials have told the Tiger-Rickie-Louis trio, according to the TV folks.
8:15PM: Jordan Spieth has been steady. The Masters champ is at even par through 10 holes, with one birdie and one bogey.
8:14PM: And lest we forget about Rickie Fowler ... he turned in 8 over par.
8:08PM: Tiger Woods turns in 4-over 39. No big numbers on his card (four bogeys, no birdies), but lots of bad swings and poor putts.
Tiger makes the turn 4 over, and has made three consecutive pars. Still don’t know how to feel about what I’m watching. Not great.
— Tiger Tracker (@GCTigerTracker) June 19, 2015
8PM: Amateur Brian Campbell is 3 under through seven holes. The 22-year-old Illinois senior made it through local and sectional qualifying to reach Chambers Bay.
7:52PM: Tiger Woods manages to save par at the par-5 eighth, despite a wayward tee shot and his club flying from his hand after impact on his second shot. Rickie Fowler, meanwhile, doubled the eighth. Tiger is at 4 over, Rickie at 5 over.
7:47PM: Jason Day is on the move. He makes a 25-footer for birdie at the ninth to turn in 2 under 33.
7:39PM: The saga continues for Tiger Woods off the tee on No. 8.
Fore right...
— Tiger Tracker (@GCTigerTracker) June 18, 2015
7:35PM: Jordan Spieth birdies the par-5 eighth to get back to even par for the tournament.
7:22PM: Some analysis of Rory McIlroy’s opening-round 2-over 72.
7:15PM: Another bogey for Tiger. Woods drops to 4 over through six holes.
Tiger Woods: +4 through 6 holes; worst 6-hole start to a U.S. Open in career.
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) June 18, 2015
7:10PM: Jordan Spieth makes his first non-par. Unfortunately, it’s a bogey at the sixth to drop to 1 over.
6:58PM: Ben Martin is off to a great start. Par-birdie-eagle has him at 3 under through three holes.
6:46PM: Meanwhile, there are 32 players currently under par, including amateur Beau Hossler, of Olympic Club fame in 2012. Starting at the 10th, he turned in 1-under 34.
6:39PM: Another bogey for Tiger Woods. He’s 3 over through four holes.
6:28PM: In case you missed it, U.S. Senior Open champion Colin Montgomerie opened in 1-under 69 today.
6:22PM: Four holes, four pars for reigning Masters champion Jordan Spieth.
6:19PM: For the record, Sergio had 33 putts in an opening-round, even-par 70.
I think a championship of the caliber of @usopengolf deserves better quality green surfaces that we have this week but maybe I'm wrong!
— Sergio Garcia (@TheSergioGarcia) June 18, 2015
6:14PM: Not that there would be anything wrong with a few tears on the first hole of your U.S. Open debut, but ...
Looked like 15-yr-old Cole Hammer was fighting back tears before his 1st hole Thursday. Not true. He was praying. Does so before every round
— Ryan Lavner (@RyanLavnerGC) June 18, 2015
6:06PM: Ian Poulter said he would let us know his feelings on Chambers Bay after the event is over. After a double on his first hole, we probably have our answer.
5:55PM: Just like that ... Tiger is 2 over after two holes.
I need a drink. Another bogey. Missed FW right with an iron, second into greenside bunker, failed to get up and down. 2 over in a hurry.
— Tiger Tracker (@GCTigerTracker) June 18, 2015
5:38PM: Our feel-good story of the tournament is in the clubhouse with a 7-over 77. Not bad for a 15-year-old.
5:35PM: And we have our first “Oh ... Tiger,” from Tiger, after he sprays his approach right on No. 1. Only took two shots.
Tiger might need to take a billy goat with him to go find that ball on No. 1.
— Will Gray (@WillGrayGolfbet) June 18, 2015
5:30PM: Tiger, Rickie and Louis are off, all down the middle of the fairway. Rickie gets a mock “overrated” chant from the fans.
5:23PM: You can’t birdie them all ... if you don’t birdie the first. 2013 U.S. Open champ Justin Rose hits his approach to two feet on hole No. 1.
5:19PM: And ... Jordan Spieth, Justin Rose and Jason Day are off. Big Cat coming up soon.
5:13PM: Definitive proof that “Seinfeld” stands the test of time, Fox just quizzed Cole Hammer on the 90’s, only question he got right was, “What is Seinfeld’s first name?”
4:58PM: Perks of being Tiger Woods: Warming up and watching your swing on the big screen that overlooks the range.
4:53PM: Meanwhile. world No. 1 Rory McIlroy had a rough finish, bogeying two of his final three holes for a 2-over 72 on Day 1. Agrees with Phil that the short putts are the toughest because it is “tough to commit to your lines” on these greens.
Rory McIlroy will be at least 7 back after Day 1. Last #USOpen winner who was 7+ back after Day 1: Lee Janzen in ’98. pic.twitter.com/sAzrL6NcuR
— Golf Central (@GolfCentral) June 18, 2015
4:42PM: Reminder: Henrik Stenson is No. 5 in the world. He just freshened up everyone’s memory birdieing four of his final five holes to tie DJ at 5-under 65.
4:26PM: Immediately after announcers say he has no imagination, Dustin Johnson hits one out of the fescue on his final hole in what looks like the opposite direction of the green, but uses the slope and the ball ends up 15 feet from the hole. His put comes up short and he makes his only bogey of the day, but is the leader in the clubhouse after a 5-under 65.
4:12PM: She’s not wrong.
4:05PM: Bubba, Phil take different approaches to post-round interviews. Bubba doesn’t speak. Phil goes classic Phil, “I’m under par the first round of the U.S. Open, I’m pretty pleased.” Ends interview with a hug.
3:55PM: Mickelson backs up a bit on the back nine, but still finishes with a 1-under 69, well within striking distance of the career Grand Slam after Day 1.
3:50PM: Bubba not happy after having to wait to hit his second shot on 18: “Wait 30 minutes ... this is pathetic professional golf.” Finishes with even-par 70 on Day 1.
3:36PM: Guy who knows just a tad bit about Chambers Bay, Michael Putnam:
Putnam: "The course is about as easy as it can play today."
— Sean Martin (@PGATOURSMartin) June 18, 2015
3:29PM: Dustin Johnson gets it to 5 under with another birdie. Fourteen bogey-free holes now. While he’s lighting it up, only 11 other players are under par. DJ dominating with his Tour-leading length in Round 1.
3:20PM: The first group is in the house. University Place resident Michael Putnam turns in an even-par 70. Putnam, Marcus Fraser (71) and Steve Marino (75) went around in 5 hours and 10 minutes. It’s slow going out there.
3:12PM: Lest you forget, the railway adjacent to the 16th hole is active. A train just stopped to watch Phil and Bubba play 16. Here’s Rory from a bit earlier:
3:01PM: We have a new leader. Dustin Johnson makes birdie at No. 4 to get to 4 under. Bogey-free through 13 holes. In search of his first major championship. Worth note (tweet prior to last birdie):
Most Top-10s in majors since 2009 PGA:
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) June 18, 2015
Rory 10
Westwood 10
A. Scott 9@DJohnsonPGA 8
Mickelson 8
DJ is -3 thru 12 today
2:54PM: Stunning view of the property at Chambers Bay. Those hills also explain the aforementioned stretcher. Joe Buck on the broadcast said the elevation changes while walking the golf course were akin to going up and then back down the 605-foot Space Needle in nearby Seattle.
Nice view from behind/above the 10th green. Can see about half the course from here. pic.twitter.com/YyQAlzpbkG
— Will Gray (@WillGrayGolfbet) June 18, 2015
2:49PM: This is why some of the players have retained a backup caddie. Stay safe, folks.
Just saw a spectator carted off the course on a stretcher. He won't be the last. #DuneLife
— Will Gray (@WillGrayGolfbet) June 18, 2015
2:45PM: Just like Phil, Reed plays the front nine without a dropped shot and promptly bogeys his 10th hole of the day. Speaking of Mickelson, who led by himself at 3 under just an hour ago, back-to-back bogeys have him back to minus-1. Serious bunker problems for Lefty on 14. He was lucky to only lose one shot.
2:40PM: Looking for Rory? The world No. 1 is even par through 10 after trading two birdies and two bogeys on his opening nine. Lurking.
2:26PM: Chambers Bay is already showing its teeth. The morning wave expected to have it easier but just eight players find themselves in red numbers. Mike Davis re-emphasized on the broadcast that the golf course is only going to get faster and firmer as the day goes on. This was just from a practice round on Tuesday:
2:20PM: Reed turns in 4-under 31. Dustin Johnson to 3 under par, one shot back. Mickelson, meanwhile, dropped another shot at 13 and is back to 2 under. A look at Reed’s spotless opening nine:
2:15PM: The defending champ is off to an interesting start. Martin Kaymer bringing the color, with a bogey, an eagle, a double bogey and a birdie.
2:00PM: Reed it and leap. Patrick Reed has leapfrogged Phil Mickelson for the lead at 115th U.S. Open. Reed at 4 under through eight after back-to-back birdies at 16 and 17.
1:47PM: Course info. Closing hole sounds like driver-wedge.
USGA has finally blessed us with Rd. 1 course setup info. Playing 7,497 yards today (par 70). No. 1 is 501 yd par 4, 18 is 617 yd par 5.
— Will Gray (@WillGrayGolfbet) June 18, 2015
1:44PM: Bounce-back birdie for Phil at 11. Mickelson back in the lead by himself at 3 under after a beautiful 6-iron approach to the green landed on a hill and tracked to the hole. Birdie putt. Draino.
1:41PM: He’s alive. We were worried. We’re always worried. Somebody put a bell on him or something.
Took it deep last night, just getting the cobwebs off now. Still 4 hours before our man goes off at 5:28PM ET. #longday
— Tiger Tracker (@GCTigerTracker) June 18, 2015
1:31PM: Big names in the early mix. Seven-way tie at the top of the board. Five of those players reside in the top 17 of the Official World Golf Ranking. What a start.
1:25PM: Phil’s first dropped shot comes at the par-4 10th. Second shot wound up on the back of the green and he three-putted from what might as well have been Siberia. Played his first putt nowhere near the direction of the hole and tried to ride a massive slope. Would have been a miracle par. Back to 2-under.
1:19PM: Seventh time is the charm? Your early leader, Phil Mickelson, has finished runner-up at the U.S. Open a record six times. His list of near-misses: 1999 Pinehurst, 2002 Bethpage, 2004 Shinnecock, 2006 Winged Foot, 2009 Bethpage, 2013 Merion.
1:10PM: Like Sergio at Medinah! 15-year-old Cole Hammer, who was visibly emotional starting his round, just took off running in the 12th fairway to see around some kind of mountain after playing his shot. Kid is a little fired up. Par-bogey-par start.
1:04PM: Lefty goes out in 3-under 32. We’re all going to go through this yet again on Sunday - aren’t we?
12:53PM: Preliminary research reveals an uncanny resemblance:
12:44PM: Have to wonder if ... he ever asked for a Red Ryder when he was a kid.
There is no doubt in my mind that Tom O'Toole and Ralphie from Christmas Story are related!
— Arron Oberholser (@ArronOberholser) June 18, 2015
12:33PM: Is this real life? Phil, Stenson, DJ, Scott all in the mix at the U.S. Open:
12:30PM: What she said.
Martin Kaymer just eagled the par-4 12th. DON'T YOU DARE RUN AWAY WITH THIS AGAIN, MARTIN.
— Ashley Mayo (@AshleyKMayo) June 18, 2015
12:26PM: TAP-IN. That’s what 15-year-old Cole Hammer had on his first hole at the 115th U.S. Open, as he left his birdie putt MERE ROTATIONS short. What were YOU doing at 15?
12:20PM: Imagery of what just happened at Chambers Bay:
The 15-year-old just teed off at the U.S. Open. pic.twitter.com/s0l7wKl0mY
— Sean Martin (@PGATOURSMartin) June 18, 2015
12:14PM: It’s Hammer time. Cole is the third-youngest player to ever compete in a U.S. Open.
Cole Hammer gets his #USOpen underway. When Cole was born Rory McIlroy was 10 and Tiger had already won 2 majors. pic.twitter.com/yoscDmrZgH
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) June 18, 2015
12:08PM: World No. 1 made birdie at this hole to get to 1 under (No. 10 was Rory McIlroy’s first hole of the day).
11:57AM: “Absolutely the best thing” is how Mark Rolfing referred to an early tee time on Thursday at the 115th U.S. Open at Chambers Bay.
11:53AM: Mickelson leads the U.S. Open. We’re just going to leave this here:
Phil Mickelson (-2) has the #USOpen lead.
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 18, 2015
That will please these guys. pic.twitter.com/waJzvQ6nda
11:47AM: We’re not saying anything ... but we’re just saying. Colin Montgomerie (three Champions Tour major championships, zero on the regular circuit) birdies his opening hole.
11:42AM: Conditions are ... perfect, it seems, for the next few hours at Chambers Bay:
11:35AM: Best seat in the house? Kelly Tilghman’s view from the ‘Live From’ set:
11:18AM: Phil co-leads the U.S. Open alongside Cody Gribble after a birdie at No. 3:
11:13AM: Sergio Garcia is seeing red ... even though he’s not yet on the golf course. Warming up with a dark red golf ball in advance of his 11:17 tee time.
10:56AM: Meanwhile, a certain lefty is off to a rough start. Bubba, not Phil.
Bubba Watson opens #USOpen with double bogey. Bubba has 1 round under par in 24 played in US Open career.
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) June 18, 2015
10:50AM: Hey, ma! Look at me! Former Texas teammate of Jordan spieth, Cody Gribble is the early leader at the 115th U.S. Open:
10:35AM: Hear from Mike Davis, executive director of the USGA, on the Thursday setup:
Mike Davis on Thursday's #USOpen setup: No. 1 will play as a par 4, No. 18 as a par 5. No. 3 will play at 150 yards.https://t.co/Xf1vajM1H0
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 18, 2015
10:29AM: The No. 1 player in the world has arrived and is warming up on the range:
World No. 1. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/AYvrH5w8Ah
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 18, 2015
10:22AM: On ‘Live From’ the U.S. Open, John Feinstein reported that players were given an emergency phone number to call if, when out on the course, they fall and need help, because “that’s how difficult” Chambers Bay is to walk.
10:15AM: The pin locations for the opening round:
Four pins just three paces onto the green. #USOpen Round one pins: pic.twitter.com/N4Az0GktUG
— Golf Central (@GolfCentral) June 18, 2015
10:03AM: The first group is off, led by Michael Putnam. Only 51 more to go ...
.@Michael__Putnam just hit the opening shot at Chambers Bay.
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 18, 2015
Here's why that's awesome: http://t.co/99HmRJ3E83 pic.twitter.com/Xa1GFwU522
9:55AM: Phil Mickelson is warming up for his first round at 10:33 a.m. ET
Today marks Phil's 25th career #USOpen Thursday. pic.twitter.com/P2vrtL59Xv
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 18, 2015
9:50AM: The course setup for Thursday looks like this:
