BETHESDA, Maryland (AFP) ? Tough South Korean Yang Yong-Eun grabbed the early clubhouse led in the 111th US Open at the Congressional Country Club here on Thursday as some of the big guns misfired.
The 39-year-old 2009 US PGA Championship winner, the first Asian man to win a major, came in with a three-under 68 comprising five birdies and two bogeys.
That gave him a one-shot lead over South Africa's reigning British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen and Ryan Palmer of the United States who both had 69s.
"I think the course setup is a bit more to my advantage than the other previous US Opens," Yang said.
"And also I've been playing a lot more conservatively this week and practiced a lot, played less bonehead plays.
"So I think overall the course and my conservative approach is helpful."
Oosthuizen, who won his first major by an amazing seven strokes last July at St Andrews, bogeyed the first two holes before finding his form with six birdies.
"I'm happy with my score," Oosthuizen said. "I made four bogeys, but on this golf course it's got a lot of bogeys out there.
"But today there was a lot of birdies, as well. So it's just a matter of trying to get as many pars on your card, because then you've at least got opportunities for birdies."
Among a large group of the morning starters on one-under 70 was defending champion Graeme McDowell.
The Ulsterman, whose win at Pebble Beach last year catapulted him into prominence in world golf, opened with a bogey, but he was at one under by the turn and parred his way down the back nine.
"I felt really, really good this morning. I felt normal," said McDowell, who has said the weight of being the US Open champion had been draining him over the last few months.
"It felt like a regular major championship. It didn't feel like I was defending anything.
"I set myself some challenges this morning to go out and try to think well, try to go through my processes correctly, through my routines, and just be patient and enjoy the round. And I really accomplished those things."
Also on one under were Americans Stewart Cink, Chez Revie and Davis Love alongside Swedes Henrik Stenson and Johan Edfors.
The world's top three players, meanwhile, struggled to get to grips with the testing par-71 layout west of Washington, favoured by US presidents and lawmakers and hosting the US Open for the first time since 1997 when Ernie Els won.
World No.1 Luke Donald, No.2 Lee Westwood and No.3 Martin Kaymer all opened solidly enough over the water at the devlish par-three 10th.
But, playing in the same grouping, they were all soon in trouble over the more difficult back nine, especially Englishman Donald, who dropped six strokes in six holes from the 13th.
He battled back with a birdie at the first and steadied the ship somewhat but will be disappointed with a three-over 74 as he seeks his first win in a major.
Germany's Kaymer, who has struggled for form since the Masters in April, fared no better, going out in one-over par 36 and then dropping strokes at the first and third to also stand at three over for the day.
England's Westwood, who was the first to depose Tiger Woods of the world No.1 spot last October, was also out in 36, and a birdie at the second brought him to level par, but bogeys at the third and fourth set him back and he limped in with a 75.
For the first time since he made his debut as an amateur in 1995, there was no Tiger Woods at the US Open, serious knee and tendon injuries sustained at the Masters in April having ruled him out this time around.
His tumble down the world rankings ushered in a period of uncertainty at the top, with three players - Westwood, Kaymer and Donald - all taking turns to rule the roost in the last seven months.
The sentimental favourite this week for many golf fans was 41-year-old Phil Mickelson, who has endured more than his fair share of US Open heartbreak, having finished second a record five times in the tournament he most wants to win.
Mickelson headed out in the afternoon in the company of emerging American talent Dustin Johnson and 22-year-old Ulsterman Rory McIlroy, who will be out to banish memories of his closing 80 at the Masters in April after leading by four going into the final round.
Four-times major winner Mickelson promptly sent his opening shot into the water at the 10th to open with a double-bogey five, but he bounced back with a birdie at three.
Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110616/ts_afp/golfusaopen
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