Aaron Baddeley has battled back from a disastrous start to sit just two shots off the lead midway through the opening round of the US Open at Pinehurst No.2.
Baddeley carded a triple-bogey seven on the short opening par four first hole but finished with an even-par 70 to be just two shots adrift of the early lead.
American Kevin Na and 2010 US Open champion Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland took top spot in the clubhouse with rounds of two-under 68 while a host of big names shot 69, including world No.2 Henrik Stenson, Brandt Snedeker, Matt Kuchar plus young guns Jordan Spieth and Hideki Matsuyama.
Baddeley clawed back with birdies on the fourth and fifth holes but was once again three-over with back-to-back bogeys on the seventh and eighth holes.
But the Victorian started the back nine with a 60-foot bomb for birdie from the fringe on the 10th.
He added further birdies on 14 and 15, was unlucky to miss a short chance on 17 before making a clutch par save on the last.
“It was nice to fight back like that. My game is in good shape and I’m pleased,” Baddeley said.
“I didn’t drive it quite so well but I just hung in there and was happy that I wasn’t stressed.”
Oliver Goss, likely playing for the last time as an amateur, produced an impressive round of 71 to be on track for low amateur honours for the second major in a row.
The 20-year-old made a 20-foot birdie on the fourth and a 15-foot effort on the 10th but dropped a shot on the ninth.
His biggest mistake came on the 11th when he struggled out of the waste areas and ended up with a double bogey.
“I am pretty happy with one over even though I left a couple out there so there is room for improvement,” Goss said.
Jason Day battled his swing all morning but managed to scramble his way to a 73, not anywhere near his best, but close enough to the top should he turn things around on Friday.
Matt Jones was in a similar battle on the way to a 74 while Brady Watt (77) and Aron Price (78) found the going tough in their major championship debuts.
Veteran Robert Allenby managed two birdies but had his card littered with eight bogeys and a triple bogey on the way to a 79.
Adam Scott, John Senden, Geoff Ogilvy and Rod Pampling were part of the afternoon wave.
