Piercy sets early pace in first round of US Open

Scott Piercy of the United States plays a shot from the 11th tee during the first round of the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links on June 13, 2019 in Pebble Beach, California. Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images/AFP

PEBBLE BEACH (AFP) — Scott Piercy fired a four-under-par 67 to seize the clubhouse lead Thursday early in the first round of the US Open, with plenty of marquee names in pursuit in tame conditions at Pebble Beach.

Piercy’s US Open spot was only secured on Monday when he emerged despite a missed cut at the Canadian Open within the top 60 in the world — at No. 59.

He raced out out of the gate — reaching five-under with three early birdies and an eagle at the par-five sixth, then rallied after a double-bogey at the eighth with birdies at 12 and 14.

A three-putt bogey at the par-five 18th put him in the clubhouse at four-under, with fellow American Rickie Fowler four-under through 14.

Hours before defending champion Brooks Koepka and 15-time major winner Tiger Woods were due to tee off, 28 players were under par in cool, overcast conditions with little wind.

Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy shook off a double-bogey at his opening hole, the 10th and was three-under with three to play. Austrian-born American Sepp Straka, Bryson DeChambeau and Gary Woodland were also three-under on the course.