Japan's Hideki Matsuyama opened the U.S. Open with an even-par round of 70 on Thursday, putting him four shots off the pace in his bid for a second career major.
Canada's Adam Hadwin shot a 4-under-par 66 to take a one-stroke lead after the first 18 holes at the Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts, while Matsuyama carded three birdies, one bogey and one double bogey to finish in a tie for 26th along with 15 others.
Matsuyama, winner of the 2021 Masters, has been grouped with former world No. 1 Rory McIlroy and reigning Olympic champion Xander Schauffele for the first two rounds of the 122nd U.S. Open.
"My approaches, short-game and putting, none of those went according to plan, but I got a good birdie at the end which was nice," said Matsuyama, who sank a three-meter putt for birdie on the par-4 ninth, his final hole of the day.
"I don't think it's a bad score for Day 1. I hope to play better on Day 2 and do what I did on the ninth hole earlier in tomorrow's round," Matsuyama said.
Two weeks ago, the 30-year-old was disqualified from the Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio, for a marking made on his club.
Six other Japanese are among the field of 156 players which includes defending champion Jon Rahm of Spain who is three strokes behind current leader Hadwin. McIlroy is in a five-way tie for second place at 3-under and Schauffele closed at even par.
Other than Matsuyama, Japan's best-performed players in the first round were 21-year-old amateur Keita Nakajima and Daijiro Izumida who both shot 3-over to sit in a tie for 79th.
