Richmond-based Nick Dougherty carded a superb two-under 68 at Oakmont to claim the first-round lead at the US Open.
The 25-year-old Briton relied on a masterful short game to pass the typically stern examination posed by the USGA.
Dougherty is one shot ahead of Angel Cabrera, the only other man under par, and two clear of Bubba Watson and Spanish veteran Jose Maria Olazabal.
"It was still frightfully tough out there but the morning players definitely got the better half of it, especially if we don't get any more rain this week," he said.
R1 LEADERBOARD: (US unless stated) -2 Nick Dougherty (Eng) -1 Angel Cabrera (Arg) Level Bubba Watson, Jose-Maria Olazabal (Spa) +1 Olin Browne, Pablo Martin (Spa), Ben Curtis, Tiger Woods, Geoff Ogilvy (Aus), Anders Hansen (Den), Niclas Fasth (Swe), Peter Hanson (Swe), Jason Dufner, Brandt Snedeker, Vijay Singh (Fij), Fred Funk, Lucas Glover, Jim Furyk, JJ Henry, Justin Rose (Eng).
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