Duval makes fine start to US Open

David Duval today began the US Open – his first tournament since last November - in terrific style with a birdie.

After a slump from top of the world rankings and British Open champion three years ago, Duval had turned his back on the sport after coming to the conclusion that he was happier without it.

But he decided last Saturday he would play at Shinnecock Hills and with a big crowd giving him a warm welcome the 32-year-old American began with a dream three on the 393-yard first.

After a pat on the back from Ryder Cup team-mate Scott Hoch, a shake of the hands with Welshman Phillip Price and a wipe down with a towel, Duval stepped forward and hit a glorious three wood, pitched to seven feet and made the putt.

He had admitted to being “in and out of tears” with emotion since the weekend and nervous and even “scared in a sense” as he waits to discover whether the sport which made him famous and hugely rich can also give him fun again.

That, he said, was all he asked of this week.

Duval parred the 226-yard second and then the 478-yard par four third, while the other main early news was that defending champion Jim Furyk, himself making a surprise comeback three months after wrist surgery, kicked off with a birdie as well.

In his case, it came on the 10th – and he followed it with a two at the 158-yard 11th. Neither he nor Duval had any expectations from the week.

The new leader, though, was debutant David Roesch, a 30-year-old from Milwaukee who made it through the qualifying tournament for the first time in five attempts last week.

He birdied the 11th, 12th and 13th.

Tiger Woods began with two pars and Sergio Garcia started bogey-birdie, while Westwood returned to level par with a three at the 468-yard 12th, but dropped another shot on the next.