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J.J. Spaun conquered Oakmont for one day
J.J. Spaun. Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

J.J. Spaun conquered Oakmont for one day

There aren't many courses more humbling to professional golfers than when the U.S. Open makes its return to Oakmont. It's one of the toughest courses in the world, and golfers almost seem to enjoy the type of chaos the Pittsburgh-area course can provide.

J.J. Spaun clearly did not get the memo on how difficult it was going to be when he conquered the course as well as anyone ever has with an opening-round 66 on Thursday.

He goes into day two of the tournament as the leader in the clubhouse at four-under. 

It's not that he was one of only a handful of golfers to come under par or that he ended the opening day on top. It's that his 66 is tied for the lowest opening-round score in U.S. Open history at Oakmont.

It was also only the eighth bogey-free round (any round) in U.S. Open history at Oakmont. 

In the days and weeks leading up to the start of this year's U.S. Open, all of the talk was centered around how difficult this course was going to be and whether or not it would even be won with an under-par score. 

The fact that somebody came out on the first day and played it so well was a bit of a surprise. Especially when it was not even one of the favorites. 

Spaun has only won one PGA event in his career and has never finished higher than a tie for 23rd at a major. He obviously has a long way to go this weekend, and danger is no doubt lurking for the next three rounds just because that's what Oakmont does to golfers, but it's certainly a great start to the weekend. 

Adam Gretz

Adam Gretz is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA. Baseball is his favorite sport -- he is nearly halfway through his goal of seeing a game in every MLB ballpark. Catch him on Twitter @AGretz

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