Four players - World No. 1 David Duval, Phil Mickelson, Billy Mayfair, and Paul Goydos - head the US Open leaderboard after the 1st round, posting 3-under-par 67s, while much of the field had to work hard on the tough Pinehurst No. 2 course to keep their scores intact.
Overnight rain had slowed the greens slightly, but their speed still caused problems throughout the field.
The European Tour challenge is headed by a trio of northern Europeans - Swede Mathias Grönberg, German Sven Strüver, and Dane Thomas Björn - all of whom shot highly creditable level par 70s.
Phil Price of Wales, and Swede Jesper Parnevik, are one shot further back on one over par, whilst six-time European Tour No. 1 Colin Montgomerie is on two over alongside his great friend and rival, Ernie Els.
As Phil Price, possibly the surprise package of the 1st round, said of Pinehurst, "This is a tough course. Some of us are going to shoot huge scores".
