U.S. Open 2023: Lookahead to the second round - ESPN

LOS ANGELES — The United States Golf Association prides itself on having the most difficult test in men's professional golf.

Thursday's opening round of the 123rd U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club felt more like a practice exam.

There wasn't a 62 recorded in a round at the U.S. Open in 122 years. On Thursday, Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele both did it within a 30-minute span. Fowler became the first player in U.S. Open history with 10 birdies in a single round (Justin Thomas had nine birdies and one eagle at the 2017 U.S. Open at Erin Hills in Wisconsin).

The scoring average in the first round was 71.38, the lowest in an opening round of a U.S. Open in the past 90 years, according to ESPN Stats & Information. LACC's North Course is a par-70 course. The previous low scoring average for the first round was 72.29 at Baltusrol in Springfield Township, New Jersey, in 1993.

In addition to the pair of record scores, there were two 64s, two 65s, seven 67s and 11 68s. There wasn't a single score in the 80s. It's the first time in the first or second round of the U.S. Open that no player shot worse than 79, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

«When they see those two 64s, they're probably not going to like it too much,» said Harris English, who posted a 3-under 67.

With a thick marine layer blocking the sun, the North Course's greens and wide fairways maintained moisture and were very receptive. Unless the Santa Ana winds show up a couple of months early, there doesn't figure to be much wind.

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