Del Rey dazzles at the tamer US Open in history

The fact is that the first day of the US Open 2023 will go down in history as the easiest in the 123-year history of the tournament.

In total, 37 players finished under par and two of them, Ricky Fowler and Xander Schauffele, tied with 62 shots, the lowest round in the history of the majors.. Brandon Grace set this record in 2017 at The Open Championship.

At the US Open, the lowest record was 63 strokes until Fowler arrived yesterday to set a new record, however, it was curious to see how, after fifteen minutes, Xander Schahuffele completed the course with the same 62 strokes. The result earned the two North Americans to lead the tournament on this first day.

Three more facts that guarantee the meekness of Los Angeles Country Club; more cards than ever of 65 hits or less have been dealt. In total six. Since the first US Open in 1895, a round of the tournament has never closed without a result of 80 or worse, and two holes-in-one have never been achieved in the same hole, and yesterday with the blows of Matthieu Pavon and Sam Burns, the hole 15 was a party

The players are confused by such benignity, a circumstance that Alex del Rey took advantage of to become the best Spaniard with 68 shots and dazzle the Americans after his debut in a golf major. Del Rey, who is 14th in the standings, started with a birdie on hole 1 from 18 meters. Then the man from Madrid began to feel comfortable between cheers and the American show.

He then stood on the tee of hole 6, a par 4 of 254 meters where most of the players had opted for a conversational strategy.. In his first competitive round on this side of the Atlantic, Del Rey grabbed the 3-wood and didn't think twice, the ball came within a span of making a hole in one and a Spaniard, who was neither Rahm nor García, had unleashed another earthquake in the angelino field. It would not be the last, a fantasy tee shot from the bunker on hole 5 or a 12-meter putt for par on hole 7, even American television was following the Spanish recital.

Rahm's discreet start

Jon Rahm and David Puig share 25th place with -1. 'Rahmbo' suffered more than necessary on a very erratic day off the tee. The one from Barrika did not take his first fairway until his ninth hole. Perhaps the result is for the best for the fragile long game of the Spaniard, especially on his first nine holes. David Puig debuted with note in his first Grand Slam tournament. Sergio García finished with a round of 70 shots, par for the course and ranked 38th, while Pablo Larrázabal did so with +1 (71) tied for 56th position.

Among other heavyweights with a good start, Dustin Johnson shared the third position with his 64 shots and Rory McIIroy finished fifth with 65.