South African duo Erik van Rooyen and Christiaan Bezuidenhout weathered the early storm by making decent starts to their US Open campaigns.
With the opening round still firmly up and running, Van Rooyen and Bezuidenhout were two of the earlier finishers and managed to complete composed opening days at Winged Foot Golf Club.
The course presented a number of challenges to some of the best golfers across the world on Thursday but, fortunately, the South African pair kept their cool to conclude with respective rounds of 70.
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Both Van Rooyen and Bezuidenhout battled to start strongly in the year’s second Major but were made to work hard for their solid first rounds.
Van Rooyen, especially, had to endure an up-and-down opening round and in the end settled for five birdies and five bogeys for the first round’s action, while Bezuidenhout was a bit more determined throughout his opening round’s display, completing the day with one birdie and a bogey.
The course is expected to play a bit rough throughout the four rounds, meaning the starts by Van Rooyen and Bezuidenhout should bode well heading into the weekend.
American Webb Simpson, who started Thursday’s action with a one-over-par 71 on Thursday believes the difficult course presents players with a different kind of challenge this week.
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‘I enjoy the grind of it. It’s a different kind of golf, and I do enjoy it. I don’t know if I would use the word “fun” like he did, but he’s obviously had more fun than me today.
‘But I like playing tournaments where 18 under doesn’t win. Whatever it’s going to be this week, it’s not going to be 18 under. So, I do enjoy it,’ he said on Thursday.
