Ireland's Padraig Harrington shot a 69 to leave himself four shots off veteran Tom Watson and qualifier Brett Quigley after yesterday's opening round of US Open at Olympia fields.
Defending Champion Tiger Woods eked out a scrappy opening round of 70.
A bogey at the last left Dubliner Harrington on one under for the round alongside fellow European tour veteran Colin Montgomerie.
The duo were at one stage in a share for the lead, with Montgomerie climbing as high as four under.
Harrington got off to a perfect start with birdies on two and five before bogeying the ninth to turn on one under. He was immediately back in touch however when he shot a three on the par four tenth. His bogey on the 18th was his only deviation from par after that.
Darren Clarke finished level par after recovering from two early bogies to card two birdies in his front nine.
But an inspired Watson, at the age of 53, was very much the man of the round. He eagled the par-four 12th and birdied two of his last three holes to record his lowest score at a US Open since 1987.