Spaun grabs US Open lead with McIlroy, Woodland in the hunt

American J.J. Spaun seized an early one-stroke lead in Thursday’s first round of the US Open with Rory McIlroy and other major winners trying to chase him down at Oakmont. Second-ranked McIlroy, who completed a career Grand Slam by winning the Masters in April, was in a pack on two-under with South Korean Kim Si-woo, […]

American J.J. Spaun seized an early one-stroke lead in Thursday’s first round of the US Open with Rory McIlroy and other major winners trying to chase him down at Oakmont.

Second-ranked McIlroy, who completed a career Grand Slam by winning the Masters in April, was in a pack on two-under with South Korean Kim Si-woo, Dane Niklas Norgaard and American Wyndham Clark, the 2023 US Open champion.

Spaun sank a 20-footer for birdie at 10 to start, dropped his third shot inside three feet at the par-five 12th to set up a birdie, then birdied the par-three 16th from just outside five feet to grab the solo lead at three-under.