IRISH hopes took an early hit at the 125th US Open.
Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry both slumped to disappointing scores on a punishing opening day at Oakmont Country Club.
The pair, who played alongside Ryder Cup pal Justin Rose started brightly before plunging down the leaderboard – Down ace McIlroy has in fact made the turn in -2.
But the Grand Slam champ McIlroy limped to a four-over-par 74.
The damage was done on the back nine – his opening nine – where the four-time major champion leaked six shots to par in a torrid stretch that included four bogeys and a double.
Lowry fared even worse, struggling to a nine-over-par 79 that leaves him in serious danger of missing the cut
The Offaly man, who began his round on the 10th tee, found himself in trouble early and never quite recovered.
Despite briefly lifting spirits with a stunning and historic hole-out eagle from 160 yards at the third (his 12th hole), Lowry’s round flew away from him.
The world number 12’s volatile opening round at the US Open also saw a flash of anger followed by a moment of brilliance on his eighth hole of the day – the 17th at brutally tough Oakmont.
Attempting to escape, he fluffed his recovery and immediately turned to express frustration toward TV broadcast equipment nearby.
Lowry, who began his round on the back nine alongside Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose, was already battling to stay at +6 when he tugged his tee shot into the deep rough.
Attempting to escape, he fluffed his recovery and immediately turned to express frustration toward TV broadcast equipment nearby.
Sounds could be heard from the greenside microphone as Lowry picked it up before he was seen flinging it away on the broadcast.
But the Clara ace regrouped superbly after the failed second, he managed to chip in from off the green to save par.
JJ Spaun holds the early clubhouse lead – at time of publish – after a stunning four-under 66.
Oakmont, a course that has produced some of the toughest tests in major championship history, showed its teeth from the very start on Thursday.
With another round to play before the cut is made, both men will need something low on Friday.
