Colin Montgomerie rolled back the years to claim the lead in the 106th US Open today while Graeme McDowell posted a one-over 71 to be two off the early lead.
Montgomerie - without a top-10 finish in the event since 1997 - carded a one-under-par 69 at Winged Foot for a one-shot lead over Phil Mickelson and Jim Furyk, and was the only player in the first half of the field to break par.
The Scot finished third in 1992, lost a play-off in 1994 and was second again in 1997, but has failed to make an impact in the championship since.
An inward nine of 43 in Sunday's final round of the Austrian Open was hardly the ideal preparation either, but the 42-year-old remained optimistic about his prospects.
"I'm looking forward to the challenge this week as the US Open is my style of golf," insisted the eight-time European number one - and how right he was.
Montgomerie got off to a slow start with bogeys at the first and third, and after a birdie on the sixth was followed by another bogey on the eighth, the Scot was two over par.
At 514 yards the ninth is the longest par four in major championship history, but a brilliant approach to four feet set up a birdie three, and further birdies at the 12th and 17th - the latter a curling effort from 25ft - took Montgomerie into the outright lead.
It could have been even better, Montgomerie missing from five feet for a birdie on the 18th, but with the greens drying out thanks to a testing breeze, it could be good enough to lead throughout the day.
McDowell reached the turn in three over 38 but rallied well on the inward stretch with birdies at the 16th and 17th to post his 71.
Irish Open winner Thomas Bjorn also carded a 72, Ireland's Padraig Harrington was three over with one to play, and Ian Poulter recorded a 74 alongside Paul McGinley.
World number 11 Luke Donald and former Walker Cup team-mate Nick Dougherty both slumped to rounds of 78, eight over.
Darren Clarke just got his tournament started at 6.47pm Irish time, 20 minutes after Tiger Woods.
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