June 16, 2011 - Bethesda, MD (AHN)

Luke Donald, Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer made a case Thursday that bad play can be contagious.

The top three players in the world got off to a miserable start at the 111th U.S. Open, Playing together, all three finished over par at Congressional Country Club. Donald, no. 1 in the world shot a three-over par 74 as did third ranked Kaymer. Second ranked Lee Westwood had a 75.

Together, the threesome combined for 17 bogeys and a double.

Donald got off to a great start, he birdied the difficult par three 10th, where Phil Mickelson opened with a double-bogey five, then the Englishman birdied the hardest hole on the course, the 494-yard par four 11th.

But things fell apart for Donald after that, he played his last seven holes six-over par, including a double-bogey six at the 18th for a 39. He did manage to shoot even par on the front side for his 74.

Kaymer had six bogeys and three birdies in his round while Westwood had a half-dozen bogeys but only a pair of birdies.

They were well over the morning pace of Y.E. Yang, who shot a three-under par round of 68.

****U.S. Open Notebook****

Oldest player in the field is Freddie Funk, who celebrated his 55th birthday on Tuesday. Funk opened with a four-over par 75.

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Louis Oosthuizen, who opened with a two-under par round of 69, has not had a top 10 finish anywhere in the world since he won the Open Championship last July.

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Defending champion Graeme McDowell got off to a nice start with a one-under par round of 70. "I've really enjoyed the last 12 months," McDowell said. "I felt really good coming here this week." He played with Oosthuizen and U.S. Amateur champion Peter Uihlein. Uihlein opened with a 72 and is trying to become the first U.S. Amateur champ to make the cut since Ryan Moore in 2005.

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Phil Mickelson changed the grip on his putter for this week. He's going with a square rubber grip on his flat-stick.

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Bubba Watson had a crazy final nine holes, the front nine. He birdied four holes in a row starting at the sixth then bogeyed the final three for a one-under par 35 and an even par round of 71. Watson wore a special "military tribute" outfit by his clothing company, Travis Matthew. His pants were camoflage and his shirt was army olive drab with stars over one of the front pockets.

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Heath Slocum made a nice comeback after his opening hole. He hit his tee shot into the water at the par three 10th, made double-bogey five then worked his way back to finish with an even par 71.

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After watching Phil Mickelson make double bogey at his first holel, the par three 10th, playing partner Dustin Johnson shot himself in the foot at the 494-yard 11th with a triple-bogey seven.

 

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