Dustin Johnson shares lead in a U.S. Open that plays like one

Tiger Woods, left, and Dustin Johnson line up their putts on the 16th green at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club during Thursday's first round of the U.S. Open in Southampton, N.Y. Woods struggled to an 8-over-par 78, but Johnson shot a 69 and shared the lead as one of just four golfers under par. Tiger Woods, left, and Dustin Johnson line up their putts on the 16th green at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club during Thursday's first round of the U.S. Open in Southampton, N.Y. Woods struggled to an 8-over-par 78, but Johnson shot a 69 and shared the lead as one of just four golfers under par.

By Associated Press June 15, 2018 6 min read

SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. – In its return to Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, the U.S. Open lived up to its reputation.

So did Dustin Johnson.

Fresh off a six-shot victory last weekend at the St. Jude Classic in Memphis that returned him to No. 1 in the World Golf Ranking, Johnson managed all aspects of his game Thursday on a classic U.S. Open course that required nothing less. Johnson wasn’t perfect, but he was under par – barely – and shared the lead with Russell Henley, Scott Piercy and Ian Poulter at 1-under 69 in an opening round with strong wind, high anxiety and scores that made this feel like the ultimate test in golf again.

“You had to focus on every single shot you hit – putts, everything. It was just difficult all day,” Johnson said. “Every day out here is going to be difficult.”

It was plenty tough for 14-time major winner Tiger Woods, who started with a triple bogey and added a pair of double bogeys on the back nine for a 78 at the Long Island course. Rory McIlroy, Phil Mickelson and Jordan Spieth have 12 major championships among them, but they had only six birdies among them Thursday. They were a combined 25 over, with Mickelson the low man in the group at 77.