Englishman Justin Rose leads the US Open at California's Pebble Beach, carding a six-under-par 65 to finish a shot clear over the opening round.
Rose, the 2013 US Open winner, made the turn at three under, before a trio of late birdies saw him match the lowest first round at the event at this venue, since Tiger Woods opened his 2000 victory with the same score.
One shot behind are Americans Rickie Fowler, Xander Schauffele and Aaron Wise, and South African Louis Oosthuizen.
Rose's round featured an eagle on the par-five sixth hole, three straight birdies down the stretch and just one bogey.
Rose was excited, but knew 54 holes remained in usually the most dramatic and controversial of golf's four Major championships.
"This is just a very small step towards outcome," he said. "So you don't feel like that buzz that you would on a Sunday.
"But you can't help but look around and think, 'Damn! This is Pebble Beach. I shot 65 in the US Open'.
"It's a cool moment."
Given the US Open is known for narrow fairways, thick rough and fast greens, a soft Pebble Beach allowed 57 players to shoot even par or better.
Two-time defending champion Brooks Koepka sits four shots back in a tie for 16th, while Tiger Woods, chasing his 16th Major title, lies another stroke astray at one under par.
Woods' former caddie - Kiwi Steve Williams - is one the bag for Australian Jason Day, who shot 70, tied with the American star.
Ryan Fox (+3) and amateur Daniel Hillier (+5) are the only Kiwi players in the field - both have work to do on Saturday (NZT) to make the cut.
Newshub.
