Record start: Rickie Fowler (pictured) can always say he was the first with a 62 in the U.S. Open. He had Xander Schauffele beat by 15 minutes. On an extraordinary start to the U.S. Open on Thursday, Fowler, right, ran off 10 birdies and two-putted from long range on his final hole at the par-3 ninth for a 62 at Los Angeles Country Club, the lowest ever in the 128-year history of the major known as the toughest test in golf. Schauffele was right behind — two groups behind, more specifically. Schauffele hit his tee shot on the 258-yard seventh hole to 5 feet for birdie, got up-and-down from just short of the green on the par-5 eighth to reach 8 under and then made par for his 62. They share the major championship record with Branden Grace, who had a 62 in the third round at Royal Birkdale in the 2017 British Open. The record comes on the 50-year anniversary of Johnny Miller becoming the first player to shoot 63 in a U.S. Open, in the final round at Oakmont. Five others have shot 63 in the U.S. Open since then, most recently Tommy Fleetwood in the final round at Shinnecock Hills in 2018. For more coverage, turn to Page 5.

Magnifique: Matthieu Pavon made short work of the shortest hole at the U.S. Open. Pavon hit wedge on the 124-yard 15th hole at LACC that had enough spin and rode the slope right into the cup for a hole-in-one. The 30-year-old Pavon, who went on to shoot a 1-over 71, is the first Frenchman to record an ace at the U.S. Open. The last French player with a hole-in-one at any major was Thomas Levet at Turnberry in the 2009 British Open.