Sparkling opening rounds by Lee Westwood and Luke Donald were the early British highlights on the opening day of the US Open at Pinehurst. Westwood is one off the pace after a two-under 68, while Donald, paired with Tiger Woods, is one under after a 69.
Scotland's Colin Montgomerie carded a respectable two-over-par 72 to finish the day five shots off the pace.
And he was joined by England's Jonathan Lomas and Nick Dougherty who showed few nerves on their US Open debuts.
Westwood was in outstanding form on the back nine, recovering from a bogey at the 12th to birdie three out of his next four holes and narrowly missing another birdie chance at the 17th.
But he confessed to almost pulling out with a chest infection on Thursday morning.
 |  I'm not intimidated by the big guys any more |
"It kind of took away from the situation I was in and I was able to glide through and play one shot at a time," said a croaky Westwood.
Donald managed three birdies on the front nine and despite bogeys at the 16th and 17th he remains well placed.
"I felt I was very much in control of my ball," said Donald, who finished tied third at the Masters.
"The course was very playable and the greens were receptive.
"I was a little bit heavy-handed on 16 and 17 - they were clumsy bogeys - but overall I'm very happy with that.
"I'm more confident these days and I feel I've got the good shots I need to play around these US Open courses. And I'm not intimidated by the big guys any more."
Lomas, in the day's opening group, could have done even better but for a bogey at the last, while Dougherty bogeyed the 16th and 17th but recovered with a par at the 18th in his first US Open appearance.
"This was very challenging mentally and one of the sternest tests I have ever had," he said.
MMIX
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