Shane Lowry launches US Open bid with an impressive 68

The 17th hole here at Oakmont Country Club is a drivable par four of 313 yards that appears angelic but possesses devilish intent with a wickedly sloped putting surface and surrounding deep bunkers.

As Shane Lowry waited on the tee box down the hill, the group ahead of him were having nightmares. One of those labouring was Rory McIlroy, who went from greenside bunker to greenside bunker in eventually running up a bogey five that provided a microcosm of his first round agony. Danny Willett, the US Masters champion, and Rickie Fowler – who completed the three-ball – were enduring travails of their own.

It was all so different for Lowry. His tee-shot was such that it came up just short of the green, into the first cut of rough. But it was a drive that brought some wild applause from a bearded gentleman in the stands.

On trudging up the hill, the player realised his ball hadn’t actually reached the putting surface. “I thought it was in the hole the way you were clapping,” Lowry shouted up to the man – his father, Brendan – before shaking his head and laughing to himself.

That gives you an insight into his attitude. Here Lowry was, on the penultimate hole of the first round of the US Open on a course reputed to be the toughest of all, and rather than sinking under the weight of any pressure, he could see a funny side. Later, having signed for an opening two-under-par 68 that propelled him straight into contention, Lowry quipped he needed to find some sellotape so that he could tie his dad’s hands together.

The banter between them provides an indication of just where Lowry’s head is these days. An alarm clock that sounded at 4.50am was ignored as the snooze button was hit and he eventually allowed himself a lie-in ’til ten past five. Once on the course, though, it was all business as Lowry – who restarted his incomplete first round with a 25-footer for birdie on the Par 5, which shaved the hole – stubbornly stuck to the task of piecing together a score.

A bit like locking jigsaw pieces into place, Lowry stuck diligently to the task. When out of position on the 15th, he managed to get up and down with a par-saving putt from 15 feet. Indeed, there was a comfort level with the putter that was a stark contrast to how it had disobeyed him at Wentworth in his last outing, where he’d taken five putts on one green.

This time, it was as obedient as could be. On the 16th and 18th, he also sank knee-knockers for pars.

Lowry – who finished tied-ninth at Chambers Bay a year ago where many players whinged and moaned and were harmed by a poor mental approach before they ever hit a shot – has embraced the challenge, of the course itself and the disruptive weather.

“What’s the point of moaning about it? I find the guys that are moaning about it are guys that are going to be going home early. You just have to get on with it,” said Lowry.

Tough golf

“Weeks like this, I get my head around it for some reason. I know it is going to be tough golf and you are going to miss greens and make bogeys. When I’m like this, I can accept bogeys a little easier.”

This is a championship where pars are good. As Lowry put it. “Every par you make, put it in your pocket and go and do the same on the next hole. Even if you hit it close and miss a birdie putt, it’s not the end of the world, pars are good!”

With his day’s work done, Lowry was informed by USGA that he wouldn’t get to start his second round until Saturday morning. Another early alarm call, but at least he could relax through the rest of the day.

“We’ve a chef in the house, we might have a bit of a barbecue,” said Lowry, still upbeat and looking forward to the weekend.

McIlroy’s mood wasn’t so upbeat. He’d signed for a 77 some ten minutes or so before Lowry finished up.

The Northern Irishman knew he had found himself in an uphill battle to survive the cut, never mind contend for a second US Open title.

His 77 equalled his worse opening round, at Olympic in 2012 when he missed the cut.

Deserted him

He’d come in here on the back of his Irish Open win and a fourth-place finish in the Memorial but his swing deserted him and his putter – 34 putts – was cold. “You need to be in control of your golf swing  . . . . over the last two days, I haven’t been. I need to work on that. If I’m able to get myself together I feel like I can shoot (low) and stick around for the weekend at least. I need to shoot something like 66 in the next round to give myself any chance.”