Daniel Chopra of India nailed all three par-fives for birdies to finish with a two over 73. Chopra is placed at 31^st position in US Open golf. The Indo-Swede, who in his only previous appearance at the US Open finished 24th at Shinnecock Hills in 2004, opened with a double bogey and another bogey to be three-over after seven holes. Australians Geoff Ogilvy and Stuart Appleby and Americans Eric Axeley and Rocco Mediate were lying third at 69 each, while five players including Ernie Els and Lee Westwood were tied seventh at 70 each as only 11 players broke par on first day.

 

Asian Tour honorary member Vijay Singh of Fiji carded an even par 71 to lie three off the lead. Among other Asian Tour stalwarts Artemio Murakami was battered but unbowed after shooting an eight-over-par 79 in the first round. The 24-year-old Filipino played with joint first round leader Kevin Streelman. A former Asian Tour winner, Chopra, who grown up in India, was five shots behind co-leaders, Kevin Streelman and Justin Hicks, both little-known journeyman golfers, who shot three-under 68 each.