JUSTIN Hicks and Kevin Streelman are tied for the lead after carding three-under-par 68s in yesterday's first round of the US Open.
The pair hold a one-stroke lead over Rocco Mediate, Stuart Appleby, Eric Axley and 2006 US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy who are tied for third at two-under 69.
Scotland's two representatives in the field, Colin Montgomerie and Alastair Forsyth, bot
h have work to do if they are to make the cut.
Montgomerie shot 79 while Forsyth, playing in his first US Open, carded a 76.
The day began with all eyes on the grouping of Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Adam Scott but the unheralded duo of Hicks and Streelman played the best golf. Woods had a pair of double-bogeys, including on his first hole, and settled for a one-over 72. Mickelson overcame a stretch of three consecutive bogeys to sign for a 71 and Scott shot 73.
Lee Westwood, Sweden's Robert Karlsson, Ernie Els, Robert Allenby and American amateur Rickie Fowler completed their first rounds in one-under 70.
Hicks, who missed the cut at the 2004 US Open, and Streelman combined for 13 birdies on Thursday and were each as low as four-under.
"I don't think what happened today has quite sunk in," Streelman said. "But I won't have too much time to let it sink in because I've got to go early tomorrow morning. I'm going to try and get a quick meal and a good night's sleep and hopefully see you guys again tomorrow."
Woods was playing competitively for the first time since Sunday at The Masters and he gave the field a two-stroke head start on Thursday, and after making up the deficit, he returned the favor once again.
Woods hit his first shot of the tournament into the rough at number one, leading to a double-bogey. He spent the next eight holes climbing back up the leaderboard and was one-under at the turn. He started the back nine with four consecutive pars before his second double-bogey of the day, this one at the par-four 14th.
He finished his one-over 72 with a three-putt par at the par-five 18th. Despite the disappointing finish to an uneven round, Woods was content with his position.
"To make two double-bogeys and a three-putt and be only four back, that's a great position to be in," Woods said. "Because I know I can clean that up tomorrow."
The full article contains 426 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
