Round 1 of a U.S. Open has a tendency to send observers to bio pages or Google. While there might be an occasional big name at the top of the leader board, the opening round is known for its surprises, and the 122nd championship that began Thursday at The Country Club followed that script.
How about an alternate leading the field? Adam Hadwin certainly is known in golf circles – he owns 12 professional wins, including one on the PGA Tour. But the 34-year-old Canadian, the first alternate from the Dallas final qualifier, wasn’t even in the field until Paul Casey withdrew on Monday.