Canada's Hadwin fires 66 to lead US Open, McIlroy one back

BROOKLINE, US: Canada’s Adam Hadwin birdied five of the last six holes on the front nine and seized a one-stroke lead after Thursday’s first round of the US Open with Rory McIlroy in a pack one adrift.

World No. 105 Hadwin, whose best finish in 19 prior major starts was a share of 24th at the 2018 Masters, fired a six-under par 66 at The Country Club.

“Not much better of a start to a US Open you can ask for,” Hadwin said. “To take the first round lead at the US Open is incredible. It’s something no one can take away from me. But it’s not the final goal.”

Four-time major winner McIlroy, who tossed one club and twice swung another at sand in frustration, shared second on 67 after a closing bogey with Sweden’s David Lingmerth, England’s Callum Tarren, American Joel Dahmen and South Africa’s M.J. Daffue.

Hadwin, whose only PGA title was at the 2017 Valspar Championship, missed a six-foot par putt to bogey the third hole, then birdied five of the next six holes, dropping his approaches between two and four feet on all but the par-3 sixth and making each short birdie putt to grab the outright lead.

“I kind of held down the fort there the last little bit,” Hadwin said. “Made a nice one from the fringe on 13. I hit the ball really well the last four holes.”

The 34-year-old Canadian missed the green at 12 on the way to a bogey but holed out for birdie at 13 from the rough from 36 feet to reclaim the lead.

“There are still 54 holes,” Hadwin said. “There’s a lot of golf left and this course is only going to get tougher.”

For much of the day, third-ranked McIlroy shared the top spot despite his troubles, grinding out a solid start.

“Even though I’m standing up here slightly frustrated that I bogeyed the last, it’s a great