McIlroy makes solid US Open start before conditions alter dynamic

And that was clearly evident on Thursday, with the USGA ensuring the greens were not playing too quickly early on. They are also watering the putting surfaces and surrounds during the opening two rounds to stop them from drying out, and to keep the grass alive.

It was a decision that may have backfired slightly given the relatively benign conditions for the later wave, but the caution could be understood given the criticism they have faced.

The US Open is generally regarded as the toughest of the major tests and in the build-up all the players spoke of needing to remain patient. And that patience was tested from the off on Thursday with low-lying cloud and fog shrouding the course.

Once it had been dispersed by the strong gusts whipping in off the Atlantic Ocean, the true nature of the challenge ahead was laid bare.

Thick rough, five inches deep, flanks the fairways. Wispy fescue and undulating greens add further layers of complexity to Shinnecock's fearsome reputation.

Not that McIlroy seemed perturbed as the wind gusted beyond 30mph across the 7,440-yard track.

The six-time major winner, who started on the 10th, knocked in two birdies in his opening three holes and even bogeys at the 13th and 16th did not appear to provide him with any cause to revaluate his approach.

During the round McIlroy, who successfully defended his Masters title in April, told Sky Sports pundit and two-time Solheim Cup winner Mel Reid that because conditions were "consistent" he was not finding the course too tricky.

He aptly demonstrated that after the turn with a birdie at the third and by carding a sensational eagle on the par-five fifth, after hitting his tee shot a wind-assisted 396 yards before nudging his second shot to 11 feet and holing the putt.

Even though he finished with successive bogeys, McIlroy has taken satisfaction from his overall display.

"Anything under or around even par is a good score," said the 37-year-old, who won his solitary US Open title in 2011.

"It was a day to keep yourself in the tournament and not shoot yourself out of it, which is exactly what I did eight years ago here," added McIlroy, who opened with an 80 in 2018 as he went on to miss the halfway cut.

McIlroy's playing partners Aberg and Tommy Fleetwood also enjoyed solid starts.

Swede Aberg also shot a 69 while England's Fleetwood knocked in birdies on the fifth and sixth holes - his 14th and 15th - as he posted a level-par 70.

World number one Scottie Scheffler found greens and birdies hard to come by as his bid to become the seventh player to complete the career Grand Slam got under way with a scrambling 72.

Only Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy are in that exclusive set of winning all four of the men's majors.

And on this evidence, the American, who has topped the world rankings for the previous 161 weeks, will need to improve on a round which featured four birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey.

Twice in three holes he cut a bemused figure as his iron shot found the green only for it to spin away from the hole and cost him chances of making a birdie.

"It felt like a day where a lot of good shots were going to get punished," he said.

"You had to be hitting a great shot if you wanted to avoid a punishment. I think good would put you in some tough spots. Overall, it was a good battle."

Shinnecock softens up after tough start

Scheffler was far from the only one to endure moments of incredulity.

His playing partner JJ Spaun hit his ball on to the par-three seventh green but by the time the defending champion reached the putting surface a gust of wind had sent it tumbling backwards into a bunker and into a scramble to save his par.

The notoriously tricky par-three 11th hole did for Keegan Bradley's ball in a similar way and while it did not cost him a shot, it underlined why 2010 winner Graeme McDowell had described Shinnecock Hills as "a torture chamber" in the build-up to his first major appearance in eight years after coming through qualifying,

The Northern Irishman birdied the 10th and 11th to surge to the top of the leaderboard but his card was eventually littered with bogeys and he signed for a76.

American Keith Mitchell looked set to be another falling foul of the unforgiving terrain when he reached the turn in 41.

However, the 34-year-old became the first player in the tournament's history to hit 40 or worse on one nine and break 30 on the other nine in the same round - his second-half 29 seeing him sign for a 70.

Meanwhile, Australian Adam Scott became only the second man to play in 100 consecutive majors - joining the legendary Jack Nicklaus, who played in 146 on the trot. The 2013 Masters champion opened with a 73.

That was the same score as two-time US Open champion Brooks Koepka, who won the last time Shinnecock Hills held this championship.

They were a shot better off than England's Tyrrell Hatton, while Spaun failed to make a single birdie as he posted a 77.

But it is another former champion who is setting the pace in Clark, who has talked about seeking redemption for smashing a locker at Oakmont after missing the cut in this tournament 12 months ago.

A run of birdie-birdie-eagle carried him clear of a seemingly rejuvenated Dustin Johnson and potentially on course for a 64 if he can par his remaining two holes when he concludes his first round on Friday morning.

Former world number one and two-time major winner Johnson rolled back the years with four consecutive birdies to put himself into contention before carding a double bogey on the sixth.

Johnson, who will have birdie putt on the 15th hole to claw back a shot when he resumes his first round, is one of seven players at two under.

That group also includes England's Matt Fitzpatrick, who won the title in 2022, and Spain's Jon Rahm, who preceded him and also has a Green Jacket to his name.

Bryson DeChambeau, who pummeled a drive a mammoth 427 yards down the 12th, after being propelled forward by a huge kick from Tuckahoe Road, is a shot further back.

Fitzpatrick will face an 11-foot birdie putt on the eighth when he returns on Friday, while DeChambeau will have a 21-foot chance on the same hole.