US Open: Aaron Baddeley takes early lead, Jason Day and Jordan Spieth struggle in gusty conditions

Omnisport

US Open: Aaron Baddeley takes early lead, Jason Day and Jordan Spieth struggle in gusty conditions image

There was early misery for Jordan Spieth, who dropped four shots in his first two holes, while Australia's Aaron Baddeley seized the early lead as the US Open started in gusty conditions at Shinnecock Hills.

Three-time major champion Spieth won the tournament at Chambers Bay in 2015, but his chances of claiming another US Open title were severely dented almost immediately after he teed off on Thursday morning.

After bogeying his opening hole upon starting at the 10th, the 24-year-old Texan - playing alongside Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickelson - ran up a triple-bogey six at the short 11th.

MORE: Tiger Woods: 'I've missed playing in the US Open |

Spieth was not alone in finding life tough early on day one, with a host of other players several strokes over par before reaching the turn.

The early lead was claimed by Aaron Baddeley, two under through four holes, but the likes of Jason Day (+2 after three holes), Bubba Watson (+3 after three holes) and Charl Schwartzel (+4 after three holes) all made poor starts.

Tiger Woods, Dustin Johnson and Justin Thomas go out at 1.47pm on a course where around a tenth of an inch of rain fell on the eve of the second major of the year.

Omnisport