OAKMONT, Pa. – Shane Lowry kept his cool after a careless penalty and walked off Oakmont after a marathon Saturday with a two-shot lead in the U.S. Open.

Stalled by rain in the first round, the U.S. Open is nearly back on schedule and poised for a big finish.

Lowry, looking to give Irish golf its 10th major in the last 10 years, came within inches of his sixth birdie of the round on No. 14. He tapped in for par and headed back in when play was suspended by darkness.

He was at 5-under par and had to return Sunday morning to play the final four holes.

Two shots behind was 28-year-old Andrew Landry, in his first U.S. Open and playing like he knows how to cope with the toughest test in golf. Landry hasn’t flinched, even after tumbling down the leaderboard in his second round, and playing alongside Dustin Johnson in the third round. He had five holes left.

Right behind was a trio of players who feel overdue to win their first major.

That starts with Johnson, who had the 36-hole lead and started out like he wanted to run away from the field when he stuffed his approach to 5 feet below the hole for a birdie. But a chip that came back to his feet on No. 3 and led to double bogey stalled him, and Johnson started dropping shots.

He was at 2 under through 13 holes, still very much a factor as he tries to atone for his gaffe on the 18th hole at Chambers Bay last year in the U.S. Open. Also three shots back were Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia, who between them have played 142 majors without winning.

After two of the longest days, Sunday becomes somewhat of a sprint.

Jason Day began his big run early. The world’s No. 1 player opened with a 76 and first had to worry about making the cut. He did, with one shot to spare, and then went on a tear of four birdies in five holes to start his third round. Day posted a 69 in the morning and a 66 in the afternoon and at one point was within in four shots of the lead.

He was at 1-over 211 and left the course six shots behind.

Defending champion Jordan Spieth looked as though he might join him when he ran off three straight birdies. But the 22-year-old Texan fell back with a double bogey on No. 2 (his 11th hole) and had to settle for a 70 and was nine shots behind Lowry.

“Come out tomorrow and try to pull a Johnny Miller,” Spieth said.

Miller famously closed with a 63 at Oakmont to win the 1973 U.S. Open, which remains the greatest final round by a major champion. But the course was drenched that Sunday, and that won’t be the case now.

Even though Oakmont absorbed nearly 3 inches of rain on the opening day and remain soft enough for shots to spin ever so slightly, it was clear the hot sun began to bake it out and it likely will be fierce as usual for the final round.

The leader in the clubhouse when the day ended was Branden Grace, who last year at Chambers Bay was tied for the lead until he hit 3-wood onto the train track and out-of-bounds for a double bogey that cost him. Good news for the South African: A train can be heard from Oakmont, but not hit.

Grace pieced together a 66 to reach 1-under 209, four shots behind Lowry.

Lowry picked up his biggest win last summer a few hours away at Firestone when he won the Bridgestone Invitational. Now he’s primed for more Irish success. The run began with Padraig Harrington claiming three majors in 2007 and 2008, and has been carried by the Northern Ireland trio of Rory McIlroy (four majors), Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke.

“We all know that this course can jump up and bite you in a split second,” Lowry said. “So year, I’m two ahead with 22 holes left. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. These are the best golfers in the world behind me. I have to go out there and do what I’ve been doing all week. I’m really looking forward to tomorrow. This is exactly where you want to be. I’ve been beating myself up over the last six months trying to get in this position.

“I’m here now. I might as well enjoy it while I’m here.”

It wasn’t so enjoyable earlier in the day when he was lining up a 30-foot birdie putt and nudged the ball with his putter. It moved ever so slightly, enough for Lowry to see, and he turned in disgust to call over an official, then held the putter behind his neck as if he wanted to snap it.

He took the one-shot penalty and then saved his mood with an 8-foot bogey putt.

“To hole that second putt was massive for me and massive for my whole day,” Lowry said.

Some of the best players weren’t around for the afternoon. McIlroy needed a par on the final hole to make the cut and took double bogey. Phil Mickelson, Rickie Fowler and Justin Rose also missed the cut.

OAKMONT, Pa. – One year after Dustin Johnson let the U.S. Open slip away from him at Chambers Bay, he drove his way to the top of the leaderboard Friday at Oakmont.

Immaculate from tee-to-green, Johnson endured a marathon day of 36 holes with a game that makes him look tough to beat. He didn’t make a bogey in his opening round of 3-under 67, and he dropped only one shot in his 69 that ended just as the siren sounded to stop play because of darkness.

Johnson was at 4-under 136, two shots ahead of anyone else who completed the second round in the rain-delayed U.S. Open.

More than just his long ball, one of Johnson’s greatest assets is a short memory. He already has squandered chances in four majors, none more crushing than last year when he was a 12-foot eagle putt away from winning and three-putted to finish one behind Jordan Spieth.

Asked if he was motivated by Chambers Bay, Johnson deadpanned, “What happened last year?”

Andrew Landry had a much shorter day.

The 28-year-old qualifier only had to hit one shot Friday when he returned in the morning to make a 10-foot birdie putt for a 66 and the lead. It was the best opening round in 10 majors at Oakmont, beating a record shared by Ben Hogan and Tom Watson.

Landry also became the first player in 30 years to have the sole lead after his first U.S. Open round.

Three storm delays Thursday left a disjointed schedule and no clear picture of who’s in control. The nine players who completed the opening round Thursday, including 19-year-old Scottie Scheffler and his 69, had the entire day off Friday.

Those who had to return to finish the first round initially were given tee times deep into the evening until the USGA decided it best that everyone from that half of the field – including Spieth at 2 over – start Saturday morning.

Johnson went 27 holes without a bogey in a U.S. Open held on its toughest course.

The streak finally ended when he found a deep bunker left of the first fairway, advanced only 40 yards and narrowly missed a 20-foot par putt. He missed plenty of other birdie chances along the way, not alarming because Oakmont’s greens are difficult to putt.

Far more impressive was his accuracy.

Johnson missed only three fairways in the second round, and he has missed only five greens through two rounds. If the lead stands after the second round is over, it would match the lowest 36-hole score in a U.S. Open at Oakmont. And he still hasn’t made a birdie on a par 5 in two rounds.

“It was a long day today, but I felt like I played really solid all day for all 36 holes,” he said. “I drove it really well.”

Sergio Garcia, who also knows his share of heartache in the majors, stayed with Johnson as best he could. He made a tough par on No. 4 by playing his third shot from the fifth fairway. And he finished his round with a 50-foot par save for a 70.

Garcia was at 2-under 138, along with Scott Piercy, who also went 68-70.

“I’m too old for this,” the 36-year-old Spaniard said. “We know how difficult the U.S. Open is, and here at Oakmont even tougher.”

On the leaderboard, they were one shot behind Lee Westwood, who closed with two birdies in the morning for a 67.

“It was good, one of the best starts I’ve ever had,” Westwood said. “I felt confident out there and hit a lot of good shots. I was shaping it both ways, which you need to do in U.S. Opens to get at a lot of the flags.”

Daniel Summerhays, who got into the field as an alternate, had a tournament-best 65 and joined Andy Sullivan (68) at 1-under 139. Jim Furyk, a runner-up at Oakmont in the 2007 U.S. Open, also was at 1 under and faced the ninth hole Saturday morning to finish his round.

Spieth, who finished off a round of only one birdie for a 72, returned to Oakmont in the afternoon to putt. Rory McIlroy, who matched his worst score in a U.S. Open with a 77, came back to work on his swing.

On the course, other stars were struggling.

Jason Day, the No. 1 player in the world, opened with a 76 and was at 5 over with three holes remaining. Phil Mickelson was in danger of missing the cut for the second straight time at Oakmont. He was at 7 over with two holes remaining.

For Johnson, it’s time to put up his feet and contemplate another run at a major.

“He played awesome,” Garcia said. “It’s impressive. He drove the ball great, very far. I don’t think he missed many fairways at all. Out of 36 holes here at Oakmont with only one bogey, it shows you have to play really, really well. He’s going to be tough to beat, but I’ll give it a shot.”

OAKMONT, Pa. – Storms that took plenty of bite out of Oakmont wound up shutting down the U.S. Open on Thursday.

The first round was suspended for the third and final time just as 28-year-old qualifier Andrew Landry was finishing up a dream round in his debut at golf’s toughest test.

Coming off two straight bogeys, Landry hit his approach into about 10 feet on the ninth hole for a birdie attempt when the horn sounded as a violent storm approached. He was at 3-under par.

That wasn’t the only memorable U.S. Open debut. Scottie Scheffler, who just finished his sophomore year at Texas, can at least say he was the leader for the day. Scheffler, one of only nine players to finish, opened with a 69.

Seven of the 78 player who teed off in the morning were under par, so Oakmont still presented its typical share of problems, mostly on the greens.

Defending champion Jordan Spieth was irritated by a few mistakes, though he was 1 over through 12 holes. Spieth was mainly disgusted on the 17th hole when his wedge landed behind the pin, spun back on the rain-softened green and kept trickling until it went down the slope and into a bunker.

“You got to be KIDDING me! How is that in the bunker?” Spieth said from the fairway before slinging his club toward his bag. Even more irritating to Spieth and others was that after the initial delay of 1 hour, 19 minutes, players were sent back to the course without having a chance to warm up.

It could have been worse. Masters champion. Danny Willett, Rory McIlroy and Rickie Fowler played in the same group and were a combined 14-over par through 13 holes. Fowler had missed the cut in three of his last five events.

Oakmont received more than an inch of rain overnight, and it was evident immediately how much it affected the course reputed to be the toughest in America. Denny McCarthy, the first to hit a shot in the 116th U.S. Open, struck what he thought was a good approach to No. 1. The fairway slopes sharply downhill to a green that runs away from players, and the typical play is to land it some 25 yards short and let it run onto the green and, hopefully, have it stay there.

His shot stopped short of the green.

But while the greens were soft, they still were quick as ever. Starting on No. 10, Bryon DeChambau had a 40-foot birdie attempt that didn’t stop until it was some 35 feet beyond the hole.

Two holes later, Spieth hit a wedge that checked up about 10 feet short of the hole and then trickled a few inches toward the cup. And it didn’t stop. Turn by turn, the ball kept moving until it settled 2 feet away. Even then, Spieth gave the putt great care and rolled in it.

“It’s nice to know if I miss it, I’m chipping,” Spieth said walking off the green.

There was still enough excitement, with Lee Westwood holing out with a wedge on the 14th hole, Danny Lee holing out from the fairway on No. 6 and McCarthy getting it on the act with a hole-out from the 11th fairway.

Lee was at 2 under through 13 holes, along with Bubba Watson, who made only two pars in his opening holes. Watson has never played the U.S. Open very well, except at Oakmont. He tied for fifth in 2007.

Westwood, Kevin Streelman and Harris English were at 1 under on various parts of the course.

DeChambeau, who won the U.S. Amateur last year and had to qualify for the Open because he turned pro, was among the early leaders until two holes set him back.

His shot out of deep rough in the 18th fairway squirted low and left and into a bunker, and his third shot banged off the grandstand, leading to double bogey. On his next shot at No. 1, he pushed right and into the bushes. Then, he hit a provisional shot into deep rough on the left. DeChambeau was spared by finding his ball. It was unplayable, so he was allowed to go back to the tee. He hit the fairway and limited the damage to a double bogey.

Players were sent back onto the course to play no more than two holes before another band of storms arrived, and play was halted the second time for 2 hours, 26 minutes.

The longest day of all belonged to the likes of Jason Day, Phil Mickelson and the other half of the field that didn’t even play. And they faced an even longer day on Friday that for some could mean 36 holes at Oakmont.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Daniel Berger won the FedEx St. Jude Classic on Sunday for his first PGA Tour title, shooting a 3-under 67 to hold off Phil Mickelson, Steve Stricker and Brooks Koepka by three strokes.

The 23-year-old Floridian had had never been in a final pairing until Sunday. When Mickelson, with his 42 career PGA Tour titles, closed within a stroke, Berger birdied three of his next four holes, highlighted by a 32-foot putt on the par-3 14th that pushed his lead to 13 under.

Berger finished at 13-under 267. He became the 13th first-time winner on tour this season and took home the winner’s check of $1.1 million in the 50th start of his career.

“It’s the greatest feeling,” Berger said. “You work so hard to get here and to finally be able to put the trophy up, there’s no way I can describe it.”

Mickelson and Stricker shot 67, and Koepka had a 66 in the round that was delayed three hours because of storms. Dustin Johnson had a 63, setting the back-nine record with a 29, to finish fifth at 9 under.

Berger also became the fourth first-time winner at this event in the past six years and 10th overall in Memphis.

David Hearn, of Brantford, Ont., shot an even 70 in his fourth round and finished the tournament in a tie for 41st at 1-over 281.

Now he will head to Oakmont trying to do something no one has ever done before by following up a tour title by winning the U.S. Open. Only 11 have ever won a major after winning on tour, and Rory McIlroy was the last when he won the PGA Championship the week after taking the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in 2014.

The thunderstorms slowed down the confident Berger, and only for a hole. He had hit only hit three shots when the horn sounded. Play finally resumed at 4 p.m. local time, and Berger resumed by two-putting from 10 feet on No. 1 for bogey.

But the 2014-15 rookie of the year who already has finished second twice with a total of nine top 10s in his young career. He shook off the bogey by stringing together four straight pars with Koepka catching him atop the leaderboard at 9 under before bogeying No. 8. Berger birdied Nos. 6 and 11 to make the turn at 11 under.

He stumbled on No. 10, two-putting from 10 feet again for bogey. Mickelson went to 9 under with two birdies on his first three holes on the back nine, which included a 44-footer on the par-4 12th. Then Mickelson’s putter failed him as he just missed from 11 feet on No. 13 and 17 feet on No. 14 chasing his first win since the 2013 British Open.

Berger had no such issues as he rolled in putts of 8 feet on No. 12, the 32-footer on No. 14 and a 22-footer on No. 15. That proved more than enough margin as Mickelson birdied the par-5 16th.

Johnson rebounded from a 73 by shooting the best round this week before heading to Oakmont. He chipped in for eagle on No. 16 from 16 feet and holed out from 22 feet on No. 18 to set the back-nine record. That put him a stroke back of Berger who had 11 holes to play, but Johnson felt good about his game with the U.S. Open next.

“On the back nine, I had great looks on every hole,” Johnson said. “Struck it a little better. I got a little sloppy with my setup the first couple days. Caused me to mishit some shots. I’m real comfortable, real confident going into next week.”

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Daniel Berger shot a 1-under 69 on a hot, sticky Saturday at the FedEx St. Jude Classic, giving him a three-stroke lead over Phil Mickelson, Steve Stricker and D.A. Points.

Berger, the 2014-15 rookie of the year who had led after a round on tour only once before this event back in 2014, now has led consecutive rounds as he looks for his first PGA Tour victory. Berger carded four birdies, a bogey and a double bogey to reach 10-under 201.

Mickelson (68), Stricker (66) and Points (64) were 7 under.

Seung-yul Noh (67), Colt Knost (67) and Brooks Koepka (69) were 6 under.

With so many experienced players and big names chasing him, Berger hit 13 of 18 greens playing conservatively enough with six straight pars at one point that he finished Saturday with the same three-stroke lead he had after the second round.

Brantford, Ont., native David Hearn holds a share of 46th after carding a 71.

Team RBC players, including world no. 1 Jason Day, Matt Kuchar, Graeme McDowell, Ernie Els, Brandt Snedeker, Ryan Palmer and Jim Furyk, as well as Canadians David Hearn, Graham DeLaet, Adam Hadwin, Nick Taylor and Mike Weir are among the players to confirm their appearance at the 2016 RBC Canadian Open taking place July 18-24 at Glen Abbey Golf Club.

Other notables include world no. 6 Dustin Johnson, rising star Bryson DeChambeau and world no. 1 amateur John Rahm.

Click here for the full list of players confirmed for the 2016 RBC Canadian Open.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Daniel Berger shot a season-best 6-under 64 on Friday to take a three-stroke lead in the FedEx St. Jude Classic in Memphis, Tennessee.

Berger had six birdies in his bogey-free morning round to reach 9-under 131 at TPC Southwind, and nobody caught him atop the leaderboard. Berger has started well, despite breaking in a new driver and 3-wood after his old clubs finally cracked last week from age.

“It was a pretty easy adjustment,” Berger said. “The TaylorMade guys have been great and they found me a quick replacement, and I just got up there and started whacking it and right down the middle. I think that’s all you can ask for when you get a new driver in your hands.”

Tom Hoge, part of a three-way tie for the lead after the first round, was second after a 69. He birdied the final two holes in the next to last group.

Dustin Johnson, the 2012 champion, had a chance to catch Berger until dropping three strokes on the final two holes. Johnson finished with a 69 after wiping out four birdies and an eagle with three bogeys and a double bogey on No. 18 with what he called bad swings at the end.

“You’re going to make some bogies out here,” Johnson said. “But from the fairway you shouldn’t be making bogies. You know, just need to get a little bit better tomorrow …, but I feel like I’m driving it really well and swinging my irons really good. Got to get rid of the couple misses.”

That finish left Johnson tied with Phil Mickelson (65) and Brooks Koepka (65) at 5 under. Shawn Stefani, one of the first-round leaders, shot a 71 and was tied with eight others at 4 under, including Brian Gay (70).

Mickelson, winless since the 2013 British Open, matched his low round this year with six birdies and one bogey. He’s here fine-tuning his game for the U.S. Open next week, the one major that has eluded him in his career.

“I’m very excited that I’m in contention, that I have a good opportunity heading into the weekend,” Mickelson said. “I get to feel the pressure and excitement of having a chance to win, especially a week before the U.S. Open.”

Mickelson had his putter working with his first birdie on No. 2 the shortest on a putt of 6 feet, and he rolled in a 10-footer on No. 6. The highlight of his round came on a 31-foot birdie putt on the par-3 11th on the island green.

“It’s been a great, great year with the putter,” Mickelson said. “My critical putts from 10 feet and in are really the putts that you need to make to keep rounds going, to get up into contention. Those are the ones that can go either way, and I’ve made a lot of them this year. So, that gives me a lot of confidence heading into the treacherous greens at Oakmont.”

Seung-yul Noh, the other first-round leader, shot a 72. Defending champion Fabian Gomez (2 over) missed the cut at 1 over.

Berger’s father is the director of men’s tennis for the USTA and was head coach of the 2012 U.S. Olympic team. Berger chose golf over tennis and spent only two years at Florida State before turning pro in 2013. Now 23, the Florida native already has three top 10s this season after having six last season with this event his 15th cut made in 18 events.

He rolled in a 15-footer for birdie on No. 3, then birdied the par-3 No. 8 after hitting his tee shot from 167 yards to 4 feet. On the par-4 ninth, Berger put his second shot within 9 feet for birdie, and he birdied his third straight hole on No. 10 with a 10-footer.

He took the lead to himself with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 15 and 16. Berger hit his approach over the green at the par-5 16th but rolled in a 5-footer to become the first to go 9 under.

“Just excited to see what happens this weekend and get ready for next week,” said Berger, who will be playing at Oakmont next week.

A five-birdie, 1-under 69 from Brantford, Ont., native David Hearn has the Canadian tied for 47th.

OAKVILLE, Ont. – Golf Canada and RBC are pleased to announce that Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont., has been selected to host the 2017 edition of the RBC Canadian Open.

The Jack Nicklaus-designed layout in Oakville, Ont., will host Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship for a record 29^th time. The 2017 event will mark a consecutive run of three years at the venerable Glen Abbey Golf Club which began in 2015 when Jason Day was crowned the RBC Canadian Open champion. The world no. 1 ranked Australian narrowly edged out Bubba Watson along with 54-hole leader David Hearn of Brantford, Ont. who finished alone in third.

The 2016 RBC Canadian Open will run July 18-24 while the 2017 edition will welcome the stars of the PGA Tour next year from July 24-30.

“Together with our partners at RBC, we are proud to announce the return of the RBC Canadian Open to Glen Abbey in 2017,” said Golf Canada CEO Scott Simmons. “Golf fans from Oakville, Halton Region and the Greater Toronto Area have traditionally shown tremendous support for the event. Glen Abbey is one of the world’s premiere stadium courses for fans and spectators and this three-year consecutive run will allow us to build momentum and community excitement both for this year and leading into next year’s 108^th playing of the Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship.”

Designed by golf legend Jack Nicklaus, a seven-time runner-up at the event, Glen Abbey will celebrate its 40^th anniversary in 2016.

“RBC is proud to be the title sponsor of this important event for the 9th year,” said Mary DePaoli, chief brand and communications officer, RBC. “Glen Abbey is a world class venue to showcase our National Open Championship, and to have the tournament return again next year creates enthusiasm and anticipation with golf fans and the local community.”

The return to Glen Abbey through 2017 marks the first time since 1998, 1999 and 2000 that the renowned club has hosted three consecutive RBC Canadian Opens. The golf club also hosted back-to-back championships in 2008 and 2009.

The 2016 RBC Canadian Open will once again raise funds in support of the competition’s national charity partner – Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada – along with the Golf Canada Foundation in support of junior golf initiatives.

Golf Canada owned and operated Glen Abbey Golf Club from 1982 until the fall of 1998 when the property was sold to ClubLink. Considered by many to be the home of Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship, ‘The Abbey’ hosted 22 Canadian Opens between 1977 and 2000. The tournament returned in 2004, 2008, 2009, 2013 and 2015 in addition to this year’s event in July. Golf Canada’s head office and the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum are located on the grounds of Glen Abbey Golf Club.

Information regarding tickets, free 17-and-under junior passes, volunteer opportunities and corporate hospitality for the 2016 RBC Canadian Open can be found at www.rbccanadianopen.com.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Shawn Stefani, Tom Hoge and Seung-yul Noh shared the FedEx St. Jude Classic lead at 5-under 65 on Thursday.

Little wind and perfect though fast greens created near perfect scoring conditions at the TPC Southwind. Some extra rough requiring tight shots also provided a good test for players preparing for the U.S. Open next week at Oakmont in Pennsylvania.

Hoge had a bogey-free round with five birdies in the morning group. This is only the second time Hoge has played the event, but he has qualified for the U.S. Open twice in Memphis and tied for 12th at Southwind last year.

“I don’t know if it’s the food or the water or what it is, but Memphis has been good to me,” Hoge said. “Hopefully, I can keep it going.”

Stefani was the lone player teeing off in the afternoon to work his way into a tie for the lead and stay there. The Texan was 5 under between Nos. 7 and 10 with an eagle at No. 9 where Stefani was just trying to avoid the water with the hole tucked left.

“It was nice to see one go in for a change,” said Stefani, who has made only eight of 20 cuts this season. “Most of them have been hitting and spinning back going in the water this year. It is nice to kind of see some balls going my way and shots going my way for the day.”

Dustin Johnson, the 2012 champ here, was in the group at 66 with Steve Stricker, Jamie Donaldson, Colt Knost, Brian Gay and Miguel Angel Carballo. Retief Goosen, Scott Stallings and Justin Leonard – a two-time champ here – all shot 67s. Henrik Norlander of Sweden had a share of the lead with two holes to play among the final players on the course. But he three-putted from 4 feet on the par-3 eighth and finished with a 67.

Phil Mickelson matched defending champion Fabian Gomez of Argentina at 70.

Johnson had a share of the lead too with three holes left after going 6 under between Nos. 16 and No. 2 with an eagle and four birdies. He might have had the top of the leaderboard to himself if not for what happened during the rest of a roller-coaster round that also featured a double bogey, three bogeys and three other birdies.

He said he feels as if he’s playing well with the exception a few lapses in concentration. The last came on his final hole at the par-4 ninth when he came up well short of the hole, resulting in his third bogey and dropping him a shot back of the leaders.

“Obviously, I hit a lot of great shots and, you know, just a little disappointed I made a bogey on the last hole being in the middle of the fairway,” Johnson said. “I pulled my wedge shot a little bit, but it’s right there. I mean, 15 feet from the hole you got to get that up and down. Have to hit a great chip shot. All in all, it’s a good day. 4-under out here is not a bad score but I feel like I’m playing a lot better than that.”

That Johnson is. He finished third at Memorial last week for his seventh top 10 this season, and a tie for 28th at The Players Championship in May is his worst week since tying for 41st at Pebble Beach in February.

But Johnson has a streak of winning at least once a year the past eight years, and he also is prepping for the U.S. Open after his agonizing three-putt on the final hole of that major a year ago to miss out on a playoff.

“I’m very excited. The game is in good shape all around,” Johnson said. “Everything is working pretty well. Just a few poor swings today but other than that, I made most of the putts.”

Goosen is playing after a three-week break to prepare for Oakmont, and he needs to work on his putting to finish off more birdie chances. Hitting the fairways is a must this week.

“Generally there’s not much rough, and this year we have rough,” Goosen said. “Hitting fairways this year is a premium, and in the past you could miss a few fairways and get away with it. But you get punished this time.”

Brantford, Ont., native David Hearn shot 71 for a share of 68th.

For the third time in the past six years, the U.S. Open will go on without three-time champion Tiger Woods.

Woods said on his website Tuesday that he is not ready for tournament competition and will skip the U.S. Open next week at Oakmont, along with his Quicken Loans National the following week at Congressional.

“While I continue to work hard on getting healthy, I am not physically ready to play in this year’s U.S. Open and the Quicken Loans National,” he said. “I am making progress, but I’m not yet ready for tournament competition.”

Woods first missed the U.S. Open in 2011 when he was recovering from leg injuries. He missed in 2014 at Pinehurst No. 2 while recovering from his first back surgery a week before the Masters that year.

He has not played since a tie for 10th in the Wyndham Championship in August. Woods had two more surgeries on his back after that, in September and October.

Meanwhile, his absence fueled speculation about when he might return, even though Woods repeatedly has said he does not know. Woods played five holes when he opened his golf course in Houston, and also was seen swinging a club at a junior clinic in South Carolina and at his media day at Congressional – three swings from 100 yards to the 10th green, all of them in the water.

Jack Nicklaus said last week at the Memorial he expects Woods to return.

“I think Tiger would have liked to have played this week,” Nicklaus said. “He’s just not ready.”

Since Woods was exempt from having to qualify because he won the 2008 U.S. Open, his spot will be filled by an alternate from the 12 sectional qualify sites, though it was not clear which one. The USGA compiles an alternate list that is based on how many spots each qualifying site was allocated and the strength of each field in determining the list.

When qualifying ended on Tuesday, and with Woods saying he will not play, 149 of the 156-man field for Oakmont was set.

The USGA set aside six spots for any players who crack the top 60 in the world ranking after this week. One of them will be William McGirt, who now is No. 44 in the world after winning the Memorial. If fewer than five more players get into the top 60, the extra spots also go to the main alternate list.

But if a player who qualified has to withdraw, his spot is taken by the alternate from his qualifying site.

Meanwhile, speculation on when or if Woods returns this year will resume after two weeks. The Greenbrier Classic, which he has played twice in the last four years when not dealing with injuries, is July 7-10. That’s one week before the British Open at Royal Troon.

The PGA Championship is two weeks after Troon, followed by the Travelers Championship, the John Deere Classic and the Wyndham Champion. Woods has never played the Travelers Championship and has not played at John Deere since he was a 20-year-old rookie.

After that, he would not be eligible for any PGA Tour event for the next six weeks during the FedEx Cup and Ryder Cup.