Canada’s Adam Hadwin, who wasn’t officially competing in the U.S. Open until eight days ago, held a one-shot lead at the major tournament after Thursday’s first round at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass.
Hadwin opened with a 4-under 66 on a breezy day at Brookline. He rattled off three consecutive birdies to finish the front nine in 31, and he carded just one bogey on the back nine for his best score ever in a major.
Hadwin ended the round one stroke ahead of Rory McIlroy.
At the opposite end of the leaderboard was Phil Mickelson, who opened with an 8-over 78 to leave him in danger of missing Friday’s cut line.