Retief Goosen opened with a three-under-par 67 on Thursday in the first round of the US Senior Open Championship to finish up in a share of 14th at Newport Country Club in Newport, Rhode Island.
Goosen made a bogey on the third hole, but didn’t drop another shot on the front nine as he turned in one-over-par 36. He strung together four birdies on the homeward nine to end the first day four shots off the lead.
Richard Green of Australia and Japan’s Hiroyuki Fujita each shot seven-under 63, taking advantage of low wind in the morning to attack the seaside course and pull a stroke ahead of local favourite Billy Andrade.
Stephen Ames was fourth at 65. Ten players shot 66. Among them: former Senior Open champions Steve Stricker, Jeff Maggert and Padraig Harrington, and Englishman Lee Westwood, who was making his over-50 tour debut.
Defending champion Bernhard Langer shot 70.
Mark Strickland of San Diego was the low amateur at 71, good for a tie for 64th.
The tournament is a makeup for the 2020 US Senior Open, which had been scheduled for Newport, but was cancelled by the COVID-19 pandemic. The club is one of the five founding members of the USGA, and it was the host of the very first national championship, the 1895 US Amateur.
Adilson Da Silva opened with a one-under-par 69, while Ernie Els carded the same score. Keith Horne fought his way to a level-par 70.
