2025 US Open Day 1: Aussie Vets in contention and Day 1's Highlights

J.J Spaun leads the US Open after Round 1. The American stayed bogey-free for his round and finished -4. The courses tough conditions left the majority of the field scratching their head as they struggled to get to grips. Only ten players broke par today!

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Tough day for the favourites

Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler and Bryson DeChambeau all have work to do to make the cut and put themselves into contention at the weekend.

Currently sitting on the projected cutline of +4, Rory McIlroy was left lost for words after a horror finish unravelled his round. The Masters champion finished +4 after a bogey, bogey, double bogey finish to his round.

Scheffler visibly showed his frustration on the course, slamming his club on the ground after a poor approach shot. The world number one shot an opening round of +3 and currently sits seven shots off leader, J.J Spaun.

Also at +3, is DeChambeau. The reigning champ had three three-putts and found himself having to hack his ball out of the thick rough multiple times to compound matters.

Out of the four tournament favourites, Jon Rahm is the only player to shoot under par and he sits three shots off the lead at -1. A birdie and eagle on consecutive holes put Rahm in the red late into his round.

Australia's Veterans lead the way

Marc Leishman and Adam Scott both sit in the Top 20.

Leishman sits at T20 at the end of Day One. Leishman broke his three year absence from the majors with a solid round of +1 in very tough conditions. The Victorian has only missed the cut once in his last seven US Open starts and is in position to make it into the weekend again.

Scott just sits outside of the top 10 at T11. Adam Scott's 96th consecutive major start was a promising one! Shooting -2 through his front nine holes. A birdie-less back nine undone Scott's early good work.

Both men are in great positions to put themselves in contention deep into the weekend.

Four Australians sit on or outside of the projected cut line (Davis - +4, Smith - +5, Day - +6 & Lee - +7). All will need to break par in their second rounds to give themselves a chance of making the cut.

Highlights of the day

Shane Lowry and Patrick Reed put themselves into the record books on Day 1.

Lowry holed out for an eagle on Oakmont's hole No.3 - the first to make an eagle on the hole. This was the only highlight of the Irishman's day as he finished +9 for his opening round.

Patrick Reed made an albatross on the par-5 fourth. Reed is the fourth golfer to make an albatross at an US Open. Reed's day was ruined with a triple bogey on the last leaving the former major winner +3.

The 125th Edition of the US Open is upon us. Known for being the toughest test on the pro golf calendar; the Major returns to Oakmont Country Club, in Pennsylvania. The 2025 US Open will be the 10th time the club plays host – the first being 98 years ago in 1927.

Oakmont C.C is famed for being some of the toughest tests in golf. Making this the ultimate combination for the 125th anniversary of the US Open. Fast greens, sticky rough and unforgiven bunkers make Oakmont a nightmare for pro golfers. Defending Champion Bryson DeChambeau described the challenge on his YouTube channel: "This course doesn't just challenge your game, it challenges your sanity."

The 2025 season so far

2025 has been nothing short of unpredictable. Momentum has drastically flipped in favour of Scottie Scheffler since the Masters whilst Rory McIlroy and the rest of the field scramble to find form.

Due to a freak accident, Scheffler missed the majority of early 2025. In his absence, McIlroy took full advantage with two Tour victories topped off by the illusive victory at Augusta and the completion of his career grand slam.

Many predicted we'd see the best of McIlroy after the Masters victory. Free from the pressure and expectations, nothing was left to hold him back.

This wasn't the case...

If anything, it has lit a fire within Scottie Scheffler. The World's No.1 has been flawless since the Masters with three wins in five starts including his maiden PGA Championship victory.

Meanwhile, McIlroy has been in the thick of it. Prior the PGA Championship, media leaks revealed his driver was deemed 'non conforming'. McIlroy choose not to speak to the media for the rest of the weekend and finished T47. The issue has been compounded as McIlroy continues to navigate issues off the tee and missed the cut last weekend.

Elsewhere, many stars of the modern game struggled to hit form leaving the door open for others.

The likes of Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele are yet to secure victory in 2025. Bryson DeChambeau is the exception. The LIV star has been in great form in 2025 but a major victory has illuded him.

Whilst many expect Scheffler to win his first US Open, there is great uncertainty about who can and will challenge?

There is plenty of talent on tour challenging the status quo and hungry to put their name down in history as a major champion.

The Favourites

Scottie Scheffler (USA) - $3.75

Back to his very best, Scheffler is once again the man to beat. Three wins out of five starts since the Masters including his first PGA Championship, Scottie is heavily tipped to add a third major to his trophy cabinet this week.

Form (Last 5 events): W, T4, W, W, T8
Past US Open Finishes: T41, 3, T2, T7, CUT

Bryson DeChambeau (USA) - $8

Bryson is the in-form player of 2025 showing excellent form since early 2025. He has put strong performances in both majors this year but ultimately failed to mount a serious challenge late into Sunday’s final rounds. The defending champion has good juju at the US Open though. DeChambeau is a two time US Open Championship and will be desperate to complete the two peat – the first player to do so since 2018.

Form (Last 5 events): T4, T2, W, T2, T5
Past US Open Finishes: W, T20, T56, T26, W

Jon Rahm (ESP) - $13

The former US Open Champion showed signs of a resurgence at the PGA Championship. Rahm’s form has suffered since his switch to LIV in December 2023. Rahm is hungry for his first taste of major victory since 2023 and will be hoping to reassure any doubters about his switch to LIV.

Form (Last 5 events): T8, T8, T7, 4, T14
Past US Open Finishes: T10, T12, W, T23, T3

Rory McIlroy (NI) - $13

McIlroy’s historic Master win was only eight weeks ago but feels like a lifetime ago. The Masters Champion’s stock has plummeted since the PGA Championship last month amidst driver issues and a missed cut last week. Can McIlroy shake off the Grand Slam hangover and rekindle his early 2025?

Form (Last 5 Events): CUT, T47, T7, T12, W
Past US Open Finishes: 2, 2, T5, T7, T8

The Aussies

There are six Australians in the field this week. The US Open has not been a happy hunting ground for Aussies in recent years. Last year, three Aussies made the cut but were never in contention over the weekend with Min Woo Lee's T21 finish the best finish for an Australian.

Min Woo Lee (AUS) - $126

Lee's form has significantly dropped off since his maiden victory on the PGA Tour earlier this year. Known for his power off the tee, it is his finesse on the putting surface which has let him down. A positive performance off the tee and on the green will be crucial if Lee wants to turn his season around this weekend.

Form (Last 5 +vents): T49, CUT, T51, T61, 49
Past US Open Finishes: T21, T5, T27

Jason Day (AUS) - $126

Jason Day's US Open record is night and day. In his first six starts, Day finished outside the top 10 once - two of them also T2. Then came the vertigo and back issues which has plagues the Queenslander for many years. In his last six starts, Day has missed the cut four times. Day is coming into this year believing he is over these issues... fingers crossed he can reel back the years and go deep into the weekend!

Form (Last 5 Events): CUT, T49, T8, T27, T8
Past US Open Finishes: CUT, CUT, T38, T21, CUT

The sleeper

Harris English (USA) - $101

In 14 starts this year, English has only missed the cut twice. The American finished T2 at the PGA Championship last month and his record at the US Open speaks for itself. English often rises to the top of the leaderboard when course conditions are tough. Ultimately, he may not have the ability to win on the big stage but his strong form in 2025 and US Open record make it very tough to overlook him as an outsider.

Form (Last 5 Events): T12, T53, T2, T11, T66
Past US Open Finishes: T41, T8, T61, 3, 4

LIVE LEADERBOARD

Noteworthy Round 1 Tee Times (AEST)

10th tee - 9:18pm Ludvig Åberg, Adam Scott, Hideki Matsuyama

1st tee - 9:29pm Xander Schauffele, Jose Luis Ballester, Bryson DeChambeau

1st tee - 10:02pm Cam Davis, Davis Thompson, Thomas Detry

10th tee - 10:02pm Cameron Smith, Brian Harman, Phil Mickelson

1st tee - 3:03am Min Woo Lee, Justin Thomas, Brooks Koepka

1st tee - 9:40pm Viktor Hovland, Collin Morikawa, Scottie Scheffler

10th tee - 9:40 pm Shane Lowry, Justin Rose, Rory McIlroy

10th tee - 3:14am – Jordan Spieth, Jon Rahm, Dustin Johnson

1st tee - 3:36am Corey Conners, Jason Day, Patrick Reed

10th tee - 3:58am Marc Leishman, Aaron Rai, Nick Dunlap

Where to catch the action

Every round of the 2025 US Open is live on FOX SPORTS, available on Kayo.

Round 1 - 8:30PM-10AM (Thursday/Friday) LIVE – FOX Sports 503 and Kayo

Round 2 - 08:30PM-10AM (Friday/ Saturday) LIVE – FOX Sports 503 and Kayo

Round 3 - MIDNIGHT-10AM (Sunday) LIVE – FOX Sports 503 and Kayo

Final Round - 11PM-9AM (Monday) LIVE – FOX Sports 503 and Kayo

All odds with Sportsbet are correct at time of publish.