Pebble dash off to slow start

PEBBLE BEACH looked like the clear winner on day one of the US Open as the game’s greatest player struggled to come to terms with fast, hard-running conditions.

As championship favourite Phil Mickelson struggled to a four over par 75 and former US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy crashed to a 79, the clubhouse lead was held by former Masters champion Mike Weir, England’s Ian Poulter, Spanish debutant Rafael Cabrera Bello and the Korean KJ Choi after rounds of one under par 70.

Dane Soren Kjeldsen looked set to open up a clear lead when he got to three under par after just six holes.