Written by: Manvi Singh

 

Russell Henley takes the lead with 4 under 67 only to be supposedly joined by Louis Oosthuizen who was at 4 under par and had two holes remaining. 

 

 

 Fog engulfs Torrey Pines on Thursday morning, delaying the start of the first round of the 121st U.S. Open. (Kohjiro Kinno/USGA)

 

 

With the suspended session of the delayed first day due to fog at Torrey, 36 players are yet to complete Round 1 among which is Louis Oosthuizen with 4 under par through 16 holes. The field ran behind schedule due to the 90-minute delay. A runner up at the PGA Championship last month at Kiawah Island, Oosthuizen didn’t turn out to be disappointing on the first day.

 

 

 Louis Oosthuizen makes a phenomenal start at the US Open. 

 

 

On the other hand, Henley took his second visit to Torrey Pines pretty seriously. Seven years ago, he stumbled upon the South Course for the 2014 Farmers Insurance Open and fairly enough, the first impression of Torrey wasn’t all pleasant as the views it offered. He stated how A first-round 79 earlier, the three-time PGA Tour winner claimed the field with confidence and time. 

 

The first round did seem pleasant for Henley but only the resume of Round 1 on Friday will settle in on the question of who really is the number one? As per Henley, he believes this time Torrey will treat him different, or possibly it will possibly be the other way round. 

 

 

 Russell Henley reacts to making birdie on the 15th hole that the former Georgia All-American into a share of the lead at 3 under par. (Kohjiro Kinno/USGA)

 

 

“I've had a ton of top 10s. I've been in contention. I've been really consistent. That doesn't mean I'm going to do that the next three days, but I definitely felt comfortable out there. I don't feel like it's a huge surprise because I do think I've played some good golf in bigger events last year. But in terms of putting four rounds together at a U.S. Open, I've struggled with that. I'm just going to keep trying,” the American professional golfer states. 

 

While the tussle between the two is yet to come to a close on Friday, the first day also came along with some unexpected surprises. 

 

Two Europeans - 2018 Open Championship winner Francesco Molinari, Italy and Rafa Cabrera Bello, three-times European Tour winner, shot 68s spinning off a tie at second followed suit with the U.S. Open champion Brooks Koepka, Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama, San Diego’s very own favourite Xander Schauffele and the Torrey Pines achiever for 2017 Farmers Insurance Open, John Rahm at 69 - the call to take the shots on the winner just yet will be too soon. Surprisingly enough, the hopeful Grand Slam for Phil Mickelson seems like a long shot as he concluded the day with 4 over 75 at the 96th on the leaderboard. 

 

 

 Two-time champion Brooks Koepka reacts to a missed putt on the 11th hole. (Chris Keane/USGA)

 

 

The golf world awaits the opening of Round 2 at 6:45 AM PDT (7:15 PM IST) on Friday and possibly then, the fog over the winning name will finally capitulate.

 

 

Leaderboard on the closing of the suspended Day 1. (USGA)