ERIN, Wis. — Rickie Fowler tied a U.S. Open record on Thursday at Erin Hills with his opening 7-under 65, and now he leads his country’s national championship by two strokes over Brooks Koepka, Tommy Fleetwood and Brian Harman after 18 holes.
Fowler’s bogey-free 65 tied the lowest score to par (7-under) in Round 1 in the 117-year history of this tournament. The only other golfers to do it were Jack Nicklaus and Tom Weiskopf who both shot 7-under 63s in Round 1 at the 1980 Open at Baltusrol.
The crazy part? It was a carefree 65, if there is such a thing at this tournament, that could have been even better.