Germany’s Martin Kaymer charged into a commanding lead on the first day of the US Open Championship at Pinehurst No. 2.
Kaymer carded six birdies and one bogey to record a superb five under par 65, claiming a three shot lead over former champion Graeme McDowell, Americans Fran Quinn and Kevin Na and Zimbabwe's Brendon de Jonge.
The 29 year old German, who won the US PGA Championship in August 2010 and became World Number One for eight weeks the following February, became just the fourth European to win The Players Championship in 41 years last month.
And the man who ensured Europe would retain the Ryder Cup after the 'Miracle at Medinah' in 2012 reproduced the form he displayed at Sawgrass on Thursday, his 65 beating the previous lowest score in a US Open at Pinehurst of 66 by Peter Hedblom in 2005.
"When you win the Players it's pretty much as if you have won a major, the way the field is," said Kaymer, who equalled the course record with an opening 63 at Sawgrass.
"I needed a win, whether it was the Players or a PGA Tour event for my confidence, to feel it's worth it for all the hard work I have put in over the last couple of years.
"That was a nice, huge win and, coming into the US Open and the next few weeks with big events, it's nice if you've just won before. I'm very happy.
"I was asked before what score I would take at the end of the week and I said eight over, so hopefully that's not going to happen now. The course played more difficult on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday - they must have put more water on the greens last night.
"I watched some golf this morning and thought it was more playable and even in the afternoon we could stop the ball on the greens. It's an exceptional score and very nice to lead the tournament, but I was very surprised the course played fairly soft."
McDowell had earlier fired an eagle, one birdie and one bogey to shoot 68 - his lowest opening round in a US Open.
Sweden's Henrik Stenson, who can overtake Adam Scott as World Number One by claiming his first Major title on Sunday, was among a ten-strong group in on one under as the early starters in particular made the most of more receptive greens than had been expected.
One of the few later starters to end the day in red figures was Italian Francesco Molinari, who matched Stenson’s 69.
Six-time runner-up Phil Mickelson, looking to become only the sixth player to win all four Major Championships, was another shot back on level par alongside English trio Ian Poulter, Paul Casey and Danny Willett.
Welshman Jamie Donaldson, Dane Lucas Bjerregaard, German Marcel Siem, France’s Victor Dubuisson and South African Charl Schwartzel were also level par on a leaderboard that remained congested for most of the day before Kaymer’s late burst.
English amateur Matt Fitzpatrick briefly held a share of the lead after starting with two birdies in his first three holes, the 19 year old eventually signing for a 71, one better than playing partner and defending champion Justin Rose. Former champion Rory McIlroy was alongside Fitzpatrick on one over.
