Bethesda, Maryland: Britain's Rory McIlroy banished memories of his Masters meltdown in April as he surged into a commanding three-stroke lead in the U.S. Open first round at Congressional Country Club on Thursday.
The richly talented Northern Irishman fired a flawless six-under-par 65 in wind, rain and sunshine on the heavily tree-lined Blue Course to take control of the year's second major.
With a dazzling array of pinpoint approach shots and silky smooth putting, McIlroy ended the day three ahead of South Korean Yang Yong-eun and Masters champion Charl Schwartzel of South Africa.
"I didn't really put a foot wrong," McIlroy, 22, told reporters after claiming the first-round lead for a third time in the last four majors.
"I'm driving it well, I'm hitting my iron shots good and I'm holing a few putts. So it's a nice combination."
He delivered the only bogey-free round of the day and his three-shot lead after 18 holes has been bettered only twice before at the U.S. Open.
"I have to go out tomorrow and back it up to put myself in a good position going into the weekend," added the Briton, who was four ahead going into the final round of this year's Masters before tumbling out of contention with an 80.
Asked how he had managed to bounce back so effectively from his Augusta National woes, McIlroy replied with a smile: "I don't know if it says that I've just got a very short memory.
"I took the experience from Augusta, and I learned a lot from it. But I feel like these good starts in the majors are very much down to my preparation."
British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa, Spaniard Sergio Garcia, American Ryan Palmer, Brazil's Alexandre Rocha, South Korean Kim Kyung-tae and Australian Scott Hend opened with 69s.
Holder Graeme McDowell of Britain and former major winners Stewart Cink and Davis Love III were among a group of 12 players on 70.
STRUGGLING BIG THREE
However the heavyweight trio of Luke Donald, Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer - the world's top three golfers - failed to spark after playing together in the first round.
World number one Donald of Britain shot a three-over 74, second-ranked compatriot Westwood posted a 75 and PGA champion Kaymer of Germany registered a 74.
"It's always fun playing with those guys, they're friends," Donald told Reuters. "But we all struggled a bit and we couldn't get much momentum going. Hopefully it will be different tomorrow."
With Congressional's greens fairly receptive after being softened by morning rain, scoring was overall better than expected in the opening round of the year's second major.
"The last few U.S. Opens that I attended, I was over par so I'm very satisfied right now," said Yang, who became Asia's first male major winner after overhauling Tiger Woods to clinch the 2009 PGA Championship.
"I think that my conservative approach, just trying to hit the greens, has been helpful. I try to make pars, less bogeys, and I've been lucky enough to make a few birdies."
Schwartzel, who birdied the last four holes to secure his first major victory at the Masters in April, soared up the U.S. Open leaderboard with four birdies in five holes on his back nine.
"I played really well," the slender South African said. "I was hitting the ball very good. All of a sudden, things got going. I kept giving myself chances and stayed patient and got on my little run."
Northern Irishman McDowell, who triumphed by one shot at Pebble Beach last year, was also delighted with his start on the second longest course to stage a U.S. Open.
"I set myself some challenges this morning to go out and try to think well, try to go through my processes correctly, through my routines, and just be patient and enjoy the round," he said.
"And I really accomplished those things. I played smart golf. My iron play could have been better, but all in all, very, very happy with most departments today."
Phil Mickelson, the American world number five who has been a U.S. Open runner-up five times, struggled badly off the tee on his way to an opening 74.
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