LOS ANGELES, June 15 (Reuters) - American Rickie Fowler held the early lead at the U.S. Open on Thursday with Xander Schauffele in a group one shot back and Masters champion Jon Rahm four adrift midway through his first round at the Los Angeles Country Club.
Fowler, runner-up in 2014, started on the back nine and produced six birdies and two bogeys through his first 10 holes.
The 123rd U.S Open got underway against the backdrop of the bombshell announcement of a partnership between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and the Saudi backers of the LIV circuit.
Defending champion Matt Fitzpatrick is in a group with last year's British Open winner Cameron Smith, one of the breakaway tour's biggest recruits.
One of the morning's biggest attractions was an all-American grouping of world number one Scottie Scheffler with twice major champion Collin Morikawa and home favourite Max Homa.
Persons:
Rickie Fowler, Xander Schauffele, Jon Rahm, Fowler, Rahm, Rory McIlroy, LIV, LIV Golf's Brooks Koepka, Matt Fitzpatrick, Cameron Smith, Scottie Scheffler, Collin Morikawa, Max Homa, Scheffler, Amy Tennery, Toby Davis, Ed Osmond
Organizations:
U.S, Los Angeles Country Club, 123rd U.S, PGA, Saudi, Thomson
Locations:
ANGELES, Saudi, British, Homa, New York