Ireland's Seamus Power hoped the USGA would not “freak out” and make conditions more difficult after Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele created history on day one of the US Open.
The American pair both equalled the lowest score in men’s major championship history with stunning rounds of 62 at Los Angeles Country Club, matching the mark set by Branden Grace in the 2017 Open at Royal Birkdale.
It is also the lowest score ever recorded in a US Open, England’s Tommy Fleetwood making the most recent of the six previous 63s in the final round in 2018.
“That’s impressive,” Power said after an opening 72 – matched by former Open champion Shane Lowry – left him 10 shots off the pace.
“Like you could see some birdies to be had but you had got to be hitting it really well and obviously those guys were and making some putts.”
The last three US Opens have been won with a score of six under par and the USGA have a reputation of wanting their host courses to play as difficult as possible.
“They have seen some low scores and they maybe freak out and do something crazy,” Power told RTE. “So hopefully that doesn’t happen.
“But if it’s set up the same (on Friday) there are definitely opportunities to be had out there.”
