Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele break records in opening round of US Open at Los Angeles Country Club

Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele wowed the fans in the opening round of the US Open with record-breaking 18 holes at Los Angeles Country Club.

USGA officials’ unwritten target for their tournament is for the winning score to be as close to par as they can engineer it, and they will have their work cut out to toughen conditions after many of the early starters on Thursday found Los Angeles Country Club to their liking.

Fowler thrived, as he made 10 birdies in a round of 62 – a record for a US Open and the joint lowest in major championship history.

It has been a long road back for Fowler, who slipped as low as 185 in the world midway through last year.

He began working again with coach Butch Harmon at the start of 2023, and the signs have been positive in recent months.

With his swing steeper and more secure once again, Fowler looked in total control of his ball flight.

Combined with a confident putting stroke – he revealed before the tournament began that he had taken a couple of inches off the length of his putter – it propelled Fowler to the clubhouse lead at eight-under par.

When he did get out of position, such as on the eighth, he was fortunate with his lie and somehow made birdie from the barranca – which set a record for birdies (10) at a US Open.

Schauffele matched Fowler’s round of 62, and his was flawless with eight birdies and 10 pars.

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler sits menacingly at three-under par, but it could have been better as the putter let him down on the final hole as he missed a tiddler.

Jon Rahm struggled off the tee, but was able to keep himself in contention with a round of 69 – the same score as Viktor Hovland.