U.S. Open leaderboard 2017: Rickie Fowler torches Erin Hills to opening-nine 32 as Dustin Johnson falters

Rickie Fowler, with an opening-9 score of 4-under 32 after a tap-in birdie on No. 18 (his fourth of the day on his ninth hole of the day) got off to the fast start about which every competitor in a U.S. Open fantasizes.

With three birdies in his first five holes, the four-time PGA Tour winner made the turn to No. 1 with a solo edge at Erin Hills in Thursday’s opening round.

Brian Harman, playing one group ahead of Fowler, Hideki Matsuyama, and Jon Rahm, also headed to the 10th tee at 4-under after making a birdie on 18 as well. Fowler, though, knocked in a short birdie putt on his 10th hole to retake the lead.

Matsuyama, at even for his outgoing nine, holed out for eagle on the par-4 15th.

Meanwhile, a guy going in the opposite direction was Billy Horschel. Essentially ending his tournament almost before it began, Billy Ho carded a quadruple bogey-9 on the par-5 first hole.

Perhaps the most notable player in the morning wave, and oddsmakers’ favorite to go back-to-back at the national championship, was defending champion Dustin Johnson, who, thanks to a double-bogey-7 on the par-4 14th, was 2-over after seven holes.

In the early going, that extra practice session off his patio seemed not to have helped the world No. 1 get into contention, but there’s plenty of golf left to play.