Payne Stewart, the 1991 champion, rediscovered some of the magic of Hazeltine to shoot a four-under-par 66 in the first round of the 98th US Open in cool, overcast conditions here at the Olympic Club yesterday. It contained a stunning finish of birdie, birdie, birdie, on three of the most dangerous holes in golf.

A punishing challenge rather than sparkling scores, however, captured the imagination on a day of major torment for some leading contestants. Effectively, the USGA demonstrated how nature could be manipulated to conquer the best in golf-club technology.

With hardly a breath of wind, horrendous rough, lightning-fast greens and some decidedly wicked pin placements, it was a forbidding combination to test the best. Significant grief was inflicted by greens which, at a Stimpmeter speed of around 12.2, were the fastest since Oakmont in 1994.

Tiger Woods four-putted once and three-putted twice. Tom Lehman also four-putted, as did one-time leader Joe Durant; David Duval had a homeward journey of 39 for a 75 and Jim Furyk carded a seven at the long 17th in a 74.

Meanwhile, back problems led to a wretched 78 for Davis Love and a withdrawal after only five holes by Tommy Tolles, who is due to play in the Murphy's Irish Open in two weeks.

Ernie Els, the defending champion, started promisingly with a birdie at the long first, but that was the only time he beat par in a dispiriting round of 75. From some of the swings he made, it was clear that a recent back strain had not cleared. But typically, he refused to make any excuse afterwards.

In the context of the scoring overall, Padraig Harrington had an acceptable 73, particularly in view of the fact that he carded only one birdie - at the sixth. "I don't know what to think," he said. "My bogeys were the result of poor concentration, but the real problem was with my grip - it never felt comfortable."

But Darren Clarke was decidedly relieved to have emerged with a 74, given that he hit only eight fairways and eight greens. "I played poorly and I can't figure out the problem," he said. "So, I'm going to the practice ground now to see if I can find something."

There were six bogeys on his card, four of them on the outward journey. Almost invariably under pressure on the greens, his only birdies were at the 10th, where he holed from 15 feet, and at the short 15th, where a six-footer found the target.

One of the most interesting rounds was a 69 from John Daly who, with typical candour, declared: "I hate this kind of golf. But it's challenging, even if the fact that I can't use a driver for 18 holes is not good for the fans."

He still managed a sparkling, inward 32 on only his second round here, and did better than most by reaching the green from the rough on three occasions.

Stewart, who will be making a competitive return to Ireland in the European Open at The K Club in August, could hardly believe the strength of his performance. "A 4-33 finish on this course is really incredible," said the 41-year-old.

In fact the figures added up to the 10 he had on one hole in the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village recently. But he was extremely fortunate at the 18th where a pushed two-iron found a remarkably good lie in the right rough.

From there, an eight-iron approach got a favourable kick off a bank and finished 12 feet above the hole from where he eased it into the cup. It followed a similarly spectacular three at the 17th where he chased a two-iron approach to 45 feet and sank the putt. "That felt like an eagle," he said with a huge grin.

The European challenge was spearheaded not by Colin Montgomerie, who had an admirable 70, but by the US-based Jesper Parnevik, with a 69. "Going out, I thought I had a better chance of breaking a wrist or an arm than breaking par," said the Swede.

Montgomerie, who carded a modest three birdies, said: "I'm pleased, particularly in view of how difficult the pin positions are. The important thing is that I kept myself in contention. I was patient and I didn't do anything silly."

Indeed not. In fact the quality of his driving deserved a better return, but he paid a high price for a few slack approach shots. He was especially angry about his bogey at the 17th where he pushed a three-wood second shot wide of the green on the right. "I'm afraid they haven't got it right," he complained. "It's neither a par five nor a par four."

It wasn't long before the wicked rough claimed its first serious victim. Play had been in progress less than three hours when Frank Lickliter, competing in the event for a fourth time, ran up a triple-bogey seven at the fourth.

Of particular significance was that in two efforts to extricate the ball, he swung so furiously that he bent the shaft of his sandwedge. It left him with no option other that to give the club to a USGA official in a buggy, who took it away to have it repaired.

Then there were the problems of Howard Twitty. It is extremely rare for a professional to incur a double hit, but the 49-year-old suffered the indignity of doing so as he held back at the crucial moment while chipping out of the greenside collar at the fifth.

Woods, who shot a 74, had his embarrassing tumble at the ninth. His first putt finished only two feet away, but it was on the wrong side of the hole. And when he missed it, the ball ran eight feet past from where he took two more for a double-bogey six.

In a highly significant comment, Woods said: "I played the way the course allowed me to play." He went on: "Though I have known it since my college days, I never saw it play this fast. I hit the ball very well but I had to accept what the course was prepared to give me."

Competitors couldn't even count on relief at the beguiling seventh which, at 288 yards, is arguably the shortest par four in championship golf. The punishing contours of the three-tier green caused as many bogeys as birdies there. But on the way to a 71, Chris Dimarco was a notable exception, holing out his second shot for an eagle two - a very rare bird indeed.

Against that background, Harrington's performance held considerable merit. Though he was only six feet off the back of the long first with a three-wood second shot, early-morning nerves were evident in a tentative chip which came up 20 feet short of the target, leading to a two-putt par.

As the round progressed and the difficulty of the course became more apparent, one realised that errors would be inevitable. And to Harrington's credit, he kept them to a minimum, notably in sinking a six-foot putt to avert a double-bogey at the fourth.

The highlight of his round was a lone birdie, at the 437-yard sixth. His powerful iron play was reflected by the fact that, faced with an approach of 155 yards, he hit an eight-iron, precisely the same club that Woods had hit from the same distance in the three-ball ahead. In fact Harrington's almost finished in the hole.

From there, he covered the remaining holes in two over par, dropping shots at the ninth and the short 13th. And his short game generally remained solid, as evidenced a saving putt of six feet at the short 15th and another six-footer at the 17th, where he had chipped from off the back edge.