Looking ahead to the rest of the 2025 U.S. Open Championship - ESPN

OAKMONT, Pa. — The first round of the 125th U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club is in the books, and though one of golf's toughest tests put several players on their heels Thursday, a handful fought off the course well and headed into Friday with hopes of continuing their strong start.

J.J. Spaun shot a record 31 on his first nine holes of the championship and then held on for his next nine to card a formidable, bogey-free 66 to take the first-round lead. Only nine players behind Spaun are under par.

With 54 holes left, here's what caught our eye Thursday and what we're watching for in the second round.

Mark Schlabach: There was plenty of carnage at Oakmont on Thursday, which makes Spaun's 4-under 66 that more impressive. As two-time major champion Xander Schauffele said after his opening round, it's only Thursday, so good luck keeping that up over the next 54 holes.

It seemed that once a golfer's round started going the wrong way, especially on the front nine, it was difficult to get things going back in the right direction. The par-5 fourth (4.91) and the 17th (3.93), the shortest par-4 at 327 yards, were the only holes with average scores under par. The 463-yard ninth, the longest par-4, was the most difficult (4.54).

It was hot Thursday, so the course dried up in the afternoon. Temperatures are forecast to be back in the low 80s Friday, so conditions might be difficult again. There's a decent chance of thunderstorms Saturday and Sunday, so things might get softer on the weekend.

LIV Golf League captain Jon Rahm, who carded a 1-under 69, said conditions were much different in the afternoon than the morning. The afternoon wave's average scoring was about one stroke better.

«Some of those holes were playing a little