The 126th US Open at Shinnecock Hills began in thick fog and ended in gathering dusk with a former champion, Wyndham Clark, holding a commanding four-shot lead after a first round that could not be completed on schedule. A two-hour delay for poor visibility pushed the late starters deep into the Long Island evening, but when the wind failed to materialise as forecast, those who remained on the course found unexpectedly benign conditions. Clark, the 2023 winner, took full advantage, moving to six under par through 16 holes with an eagle and five birdies before play was called off for bad light. Four other former champions — Jon Rahm, Matt Fitzpatrick, Gary Woodland and Dustin Johnson — were among the seven players sitting at two under, all with holes still to play on Friday morning.

Earlier, the morning wave had faced a sterner examination. Rory McIlroy, seeking his first US Open title since 2011, ground out a one-under 69 that was 11 strokes better than his opening 80 here in 2018, a round he described as “minimising the mistakes”. The Northern Irishman’s highlight was an eagle at the downwind fifth, but bogeys on his final two holes cost him a share of the clubhouse lead. Sweden’s Ludvig Åberg, playing alongside McIlroy, also signed for 69, impressing on the greens after a recent switch to a mallet putter. Yet the most extraordinary card of the day belonged to Keith Mitchell, who turned in a 41 on the back nine before storming home in 29 — just the seventh nine-hole score of 29 in US Open history — for an even-par 70 that left him shaking his head in disbelief.

Viewed from the Australian perspective, the day brought sharp contrasts. Jason Day, the 2015 PGA champion and twice a US Open runner-up, withdrew mid-round with a back injury after a triple bogey on his tenth hole left him at seven over. Adam Scott, contesting his 100th consecutive major, battled to a three-over 73, while fellow Australians Lucas Herbert and Cameron Smith carded 74 and 75 respectively. Smith’s round was marred by a triple bogey at the par-3 seventh. Sweden’s Alex Norén fared even worse, calling Shinnecock “the sickest course I’ve ever played” after a four-over 74 left him well outside the projected cut line.

World number one Scottie Scheffler, who needs a US Open victory to complete the career grand slam on his 30th birthday, endured a rollercoaster 72 featuring four birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey. The three Argentine players in the field also struggled: Emiliano Grillo shot 73, Alejandro Tosti 76, and amateur Mateo Pulcini was five over through 13 holes. In contrast, 21-year-old American amateur Ryder Cowan, who came through qualifying, posted a two-under 68 to join the chasing pack. With 50 players still to finish their first rounds on Friday, and tee times pushed back 15 minutes, the tournament remains in a state of suspended animation. Clark’s recent form — a win, a third and a 12th in his last three starts — suggests he is peaking at the right moment, but as McIlroy noted, Shinnecock is a course that punishes the slightest lapse. The weekend promises the kind of carnage that has defined this venue since its last hosting in 2018.