South Africa’s MJ Daffue shot a three-under-par 67 in the first round of the US Open in Brookline on Thursday.
The 33-year-old, whose round included six birdies and three bogeys, said he had been bolstered by two-time US Open champion Retief Goosen.
“He has been really sending me encouraging messages as far as the ability is there,” Daffue said. “I can’t believe how relaxed I was out there.”
The next best-placed South African is Shaun Norris, who shot an even-par 70 to share 26th spot.
It was a tough first round for the other three South Africans in the field with Branden Grace carding a six-over 76 (T125), Louis Oosthuizen a seven-over 77 (T136) and Erik van Rooyen an eight-over 78 (T144).
