Koepka holds share of early US Open lead, Woods three back

:LIV Golf's Brooks Koepka held a share of the early first-round U.S. Open lead on Thursday at Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina where Tiger Woods was three shots back and tournament favourite Scottie Scheffler had yet to tee off.

Five-time major winner Koepka, one of 12 LIV Golf players in the 156-player field this week, covered the front nine on a firm and fast Pinehurst No. 2 in two-under-par 33 that left him in a share of the lead with Frenchman Matthieu Pavon.

Major champion Sergio Garcia (through nine holes) and 2024 Masters runner-up Ludvig Aberg (eight holes) were among a pack of 14 golfers sitting one shot off the early lead.

Koepka, who failed to crack the top-25 at the year's first two majors, went bogey-free across his first nine holes during which he hit eight of nine greens, carded a two-putt birdie at the par-five fifth and a short birdie at the seventh.

The injury-ravaged Woods, in only his fourth event of the year and first since missing the cut at the PGA Championship last month, started his day early at the par-five 10th and reached the turn at one-over-par 36.

That left Woods three back on a layout that will test the game and mental discipline of golf's best players this week given its turtle-shell greens and fairways that bleed into sandy waste areas full of wire grass.

Woods, who accepted a special exemption to play in the U.S. Open, began his day in style as he rolled in an 11-foot birdie putt at the par-five 10th.

The three-time champion then made confidence-boosting and par-saving putts from 10 feet at the 12th and from nine feet at 13 after his putt from off the green raced by the hole.

Woods dropped his first shot of the round at the 523-yard, par-four 16th where he laid up after missing the fairway