Xander Schauffele says US Open will turn nasty when course firms up

Carnage is just around the corner at the US Open despite the course playing easy, or so says co-leader Xander Schauffele...

Schauffele matched Ryder Cup team-mate Rickie Fowler's eight-under-par 62 to record the lowest score in US Open history and equal the lowest in any men's major championship, set by Branden Grace in the 2017 Open.

The duo led by five shots after the morning wave was completed on Thursday, but by the end of the day were only two in front of Dustin Johnson and Wyndham Clark, with Rory McIlroy and Brian Harman another stroke back.

"It's not really what you expect playing a US Open, but monkey see, monkey do," Olympic champion Schauffele said.

"I was just chasing Rickie up the leaderboard. Glad he was just in front of me. [But] it's just Thursday. It's literally just the first day of a tournament. It's a good start. You just wait until this place firms up. It's going to be nasty."

World number one Scottie Scheffler and Bryson DeChambeau were five shots off the pace after rounds of 67, while a frustrated Jon Rahm threatened to break a club over his knee as he struggled off the tee, but still managed to post a 69.

Playing alongside McIlroy, US PGA Championship winner Brooks Koepka carded a 71 which was matched by defending champion Matt Fitzpatrick.

Former Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn reacts to the amazing scoring from Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele on day one.

Sam Burns also recorded a hole-in-one on the 15th, but Pavon got there first.

Rounds of the day in this case as Fowler and Schauffele posted matching 62s.

While Fowler and Schauffele understandably grabbed the headlines with their 62s, world number one Scottie Scheffler continued to post some impressive numbers of his own.

The par-five eighth hole gave up three eagles and 77 birdies, leading to an average of 4.610, although there were still three double bogeys.

One of a trio of tough closing holes, the 17th played to average of 4.530 with just nine players making birdie and the same number making a double bogey.

Friday is expected to have more sunshine and warmth than Thursday, which should dry the course out and lead to tougher scoring conditions. Winds remain light with a maximum strength of 15mph possible in late afternoon.