U.S. Open: The Big Three deliver The Big Thud

Jason Day arrived at the tee box of the 331-yard 14th and didn't hesitate. He whipped out his driver.

All week long, in the lead up to the 116th U.S. Open here at Oakmont Country Club, player after player talked about leaving the driver in the bag, Day included. Better to play it safe than to tempt Oakmont's narrow corridors. Day estimated he'd maybe hit driver on four holes total.

But there he was, at the 14th, grabbing driver without hesitation.

And why not? He was sitting 5-over par for the championship, not a birdie on his card and very much in danger of missing the cut even with Round 1 not even in the books. The only solace out there, if he'd even consider it that, was that he wasn't alone.

While the 624th-ranked player in the world sat atop the leaderboard, Oakmont had its way in Round 1 with not just Day, but Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy, as the Big Three delivered The Big Thud. Day, Spieth and Rory McIlroy, the world's No. 1-, 2- and 3-ranked players, respectively, completed Round 1 in a combined 15-over par – Day at +6, Spieth at +2 and McIlroy at +7. Of the three, only Spieth remains within shouting distance of leader Andrew Landry at 4-under.

So is the U.S. Open, golf's ultimate equalizer, where the 624th-ranked player can run laps around the world's best. And if you want, throw in world No. 5 Rickie Fowler for good measure. He shot a 6-over 76.

Oakmont has, for the most part, done what it was expected to do – tear golf cards to shreds – only not to whom it was expected. Landry, whose career winnings on the PGA Tour total south of $70,000, blitzed around Oakmont in Round 1 with six birdies against two bogeys. Day, career winnings of $32.6 million, carded five bogies, a double against a single birdie, which, ironically, came on the 14th.

Other than that lone highlight, it was mostly frustration for Day, and for Spieth and McIlroy, too, who finished their rounds earlier in the morning.

"I think for me the toughest thing is just trying to stay positive and not get too down on myself," McIlroy said. "I think right now I'm just trying to stay as positive as I can."

Not exactly the words of someone thinking he can win the tournament.

For Spieth and McIlroy, if there is a silver lining it's that they didn't have to go back out and play another 18 holes Friday, as Day is doing. They won't begin their second round until Saturday morning, when the USGA tries to play catch-up after Thursday's rain.

By then, they'll have an idea of where the cutline will be, at the very least, by what Dustin Johnson (3-under after Round 1) does in his Round 2 Friday afternoon. If Johnson shoots even-par or better, Day and McIlory will more than likely need to card an under-par round just to make the cut.