Canada's two top – or highest profile – golfers had an up-and-down day Thursday at the U.S. Open. 2003 Masters champion Mike Weir started off in contention and then bogeyed four times to finish +2, while Abbotsford's Adam Hadwin is even par after six holes completed.
Hadwin only made it to Hole 7 when play was suspended due to darkness. Leader Luke Donald is 4-under after 13 holes, and Tiger Woods is 2-over through 10.
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LIVE PGA Tour Leaderboard – 2013 U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pennsylvania
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Weir is playing in his first U.S. Open since 2010, and has dropped to a an Official World Golf Ranking of 967. He last won a tournament in 2007 at Fry's Electronic Open. His best year on the PGA Tour came in 2003, when he won the Masters, two other tournaments, and was a finalist for the PGA Tour's player of the year award.
Hadwin, meanwhile, is playing in his second Open. He's playing the first round in a threesome with Jim Herman and John Nieporte.
"I think it's one of the shortest U.S. Open golf courses in recent history," Hadwin told the Abbotsford News's Dan Kinvig earlier this week. "But that just means they're going to grow the rough longer and make it firmer and faster (on the greens). It's always a tough test.
"But I feel like my game maybe suits those types of golf courses better than it does when it's a shootout. I'm looking forward to getting there on the grounds and developing a game plan."
The rest of Canada's contingent sits as follows:
T81 – Ryan Yip +6
T81 – Mackenzie Hughes +6
T92 – David Hearn +8
Other notables include leader Phil Michelson (-3), Adam Scott (-3), defending champion Webb Simpson (-2), Rory McIlroy (E) and Lee Westwood (-1).
Mickelson is the only player in the top six who finished his day.