US Open field still struggling

The longest hole in major championship history was cut by over 100 yards for the final round of the US Open - but it did not appear to have made it any easier.

Olympic Club's 670-yard 16th was playing at 569 yards, but when the first four players tackled it three had bogey sixes and American Jason Bohn ran up a triple bogey eight.

Australian Jason Day, runner-up to Rory McIlroy in Washington last year, was the first to birdie it, while playing partner Simon Dyson managed a par.

Dyson, who defends his Irish Open later this month, was two over for the day and 14 over for a tournament he did not expect to be playing a few weeks ago because of a hip injury.

Conditions were cooler and windier as the leaders - headed by 2010 champion Graeme McDowell and 2003 winner Jim Furyk on one under par - began their preparations.

There was also a mist sweeping across from the Pacific Ocean, although it was not expected to hold up play.

After four hours' action only three players were under par on the day - and none of them was better than one under. Korean KJ Choi stood six over for the event after five holes and both Italian Francesco Molinari and American amateur Patrick Cantlay eight over.

Cantlay was trying to be low amateur for the second year running, although he had 17-year-old sensation Beau Hossler six strokes ahead of him overnight.

Qualifier Hossler was in a tie for eighth only four behind McDowell and Furyk, who resumed two in front of Swede Fredrik Jacobson.