FILE PHOTO: Tiger Woods (L) of the U.S. jokes with Justin Rose of England during the third round of the Barclays PGA golf tournament in Jersey City, New Jersey August 24, 2013. REUTERS/Adam Hunger
PEBBLE BEACH, CA. (Reuters) – The U.S. Open birdie-fest looked ready to come to an end as cool, overcast conditions greeted the morning wave at Pebble Beach Golf Links on Friday, with overnight leader Justin Rose and Tiger Woods out on the course.
Rose took full advantage of ideal conditions in Thursday’s opening round, firing a six-under 65 to match the lowest round ever at a U.S. Open at the scenic seaside layout, set by Woods in 2000, to take a one-shot lead.
But the major known as the toughest test in golf was expected to live up to the moniker on Friday although with no wind early starters at least will have their chances.
Rose, the 2013 U.S. Open champion, playing with Woods and Jordan Spieth, opened with a par at the 10th with the marquee grouping playing the back nine first.
Woods, chasing a 16th major win, had a look at birdie on his first hole but watched the ball slide by the cup to also open with a par and remain on one-under five off the pace.
Two-time defending champion Brooks Koepka, who started the day four behind the leaders after an opening-round 69, got the first round off to a flying start going four under through his opening six holes but it was a different story on Friday when he was finding the going tougher and was sitting on level par through three.