McDowell shares clubhouse lead as conditions improve

Clearing skies and warm temperatures helped the late starters at Bethpage Black steal a march on their earlier rivals as Ireland’s Graeme McDowell held a precarious share of the clubhouse lead halfway through the rain-delayed first round of the 109th US Open.

McDowell, coming off a final-round 63 at the St Jude Classic in Memphis last Sunday, posted a one-under-par 69 after opening-round play resumed this morning following yesterday’s washout on Long Island, while defending champion Tiger Woods suffered a nightmare finish to his first round.