Veteran Adam Scott is the leading Australian after a typically gruelling first round at the U.S. Open in Massachusetts, the Queenslander sharing 14th with defending champion Jon Rahm among others.
The 2013 Masters champion, still hunting a follow-up major triumph at the age of 41, carded a solid one-under-par 69 to sit three back of round one leader Adam Hadwin of Canada who stands alone at the top of the leaderboard after a four-under 66.
Scott's only blemish came on the par-3 6th as he finished with a flourish with a birdie on the last hole after being the first Australian out on Thursday.
The former World No.1 made birdie on the second hole after arrowing his tee shot to within 13 feet of the pin and holing out.
He gave the stroke back at the next, missing the green and making a hash of his subsequent chip.
But the Queenslander was the model of solidity after that before firing his approach to within six foot of the pin at the last to end up in the red figures, always a bonus in this most demanding of events.
Two weeks after his sister Minjee won the U.S. Women's Open, Min Woo Lee was solidly plugging away at even through 14 holes before a disastrous run. Lee made three bogeys in his last four holes to finish three over and in a share of 80th at The Country Club in Brookline.
Marc Leishman is the next best of our seven strong contingent behind Scott after carding an even-par round of 70 to sit in joint 26th four shots behind Hadwin, with pre-tournament favourite Rory McIlroy among the five players sharing second following three-under 67s.
Playing in the day's marquee group alongside World No.1 Scottie Scheffler and two-time U.S. Open champion Brooks Koepka, Australian No.1 Cam Smith had an eventful day with five bogeys and three birdies to eventually sign for a two-over-par round of 72.
Lying in a share of 57th, Smith was better from the tee following the shortening of his driver and reweighting of the head, finding 71 percent of fairways, while his 32 putts and approach play will have no doubt had some attention after the round.
Sitting ahead of Smith in a tie for 42nd, Todd Sinnott signed for a one-over 71 on day one showcasing some of his excessive talent that good judges have known of for years at home, included among them Golf Australia magazine columnist and U.S. Open winner Geoff Ogilvy.
Three bogeys in his first six holes required a grinding closing 12 holes from the Victorian, who made two birdies and 10 pars with the TPS Victoria champion putting very well on the quick and sloping Brookline greens.
Starting on the 10th tee, Lucas Herbert had just eight pars on the day but managed to be one-over with three holes to play before a bogey-birdie-triple bogey finish resulted in a 74 and 102nd place with plenty of work to do if he hopes to make the weekend.
One Aussie who almost certainly won’t be playing past Friday is Australian PGA Champion Jed Morgan who had a disastrous major debut in the form of a 12-over-par 82 without a birdie on the card.
* Additional reporting by Jimmy Emanuel.
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