Four of the six Australians combined to shoot 22-over in opening round of US Open at Oakmont

Questions continue to be asked about Cam Smith’s major form, but his US Open struggles were mirrored by nearly everyone as the toughest course ever took a toll.

Cam Smith tried to stay positive but at times the brutal nature of the Oakmont Country Club made him feel like “you want to bash your head in” as he failed to find a birdie and was part of a quartet of Australians who combined to shoot 22-over par in the opening round of the US Open.

Even world No.1 Scottie Scheffler, who labelled the layout littered with thick, inches-high rough and slick greens the hardest US Open course ever, had six bogeys in a three-over 73 as only 10 players in the field finished under par.

Adam Scott, playing in his 96th straight major, avoided too much carnage and was two-under before finishing at even par, while Marc Leishman, in his first major since 2022, stumbled late in a one-over 71 to be the best Australians as their countrymen battled.

They are all chasing American JJ Spaun, who opened with a four-under 66, one of the 10 players in red figures.

That didn’t include Smith, who missed the cut at both the Masters and the PGA as the former world No.2 slipped to 176 on the rankings and could only manage five bogeys in an opening five-over 75 as questions continued to be asked about the impact of his move to LIV Golf.

It wasn’t Cameron Smith’s day. Picture: AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

The 2022 British Open champ has now missed the cut in three straight majors after also failing to make the weekend in last year’s Open Championship.

Smith’s best finish in a major since his move to the Saudi-backed league is fourth in the 2023 US Open.

But since finishing sixth at the 2024 Masters, Smith missed the top 30 at the two majors that followed before the three missed cuts.

“I didn’t think it was that bad,” Smith told LIV Golf’s Mike McAlister after his round.

“I hit the driver good. Just bogeys on the two par 5s from the fairway. Even if I make two pars there, 3 over doesn’t sound that bad.

“A couple of three putts, bogeys on the par 5s – switch those round, we’re right in it.

“Plenty of good stuff there. Just need to keep doing what we’re doing, although it seems like you want to bash your head in out there.”

Smith wasn’t on his own battling the course, with 16 players shooting 80 or worse.

Min Woo Lee was also birdie-less in his seven-over 77, while Jason Day shot a six-over 76, which included a birdie, five bogeys and a double.

Min Woo Lee struggled too. Picture: AP Photo/Seth Wenig

Cam Davis eked his way to a four-over 74 to stay closer to the leaders, giving the Aussie quartet 21 bogeys, two double-bogeys and just three birdies on a day where the world’s best battled.

Bryson DeChambeau, the defending champion who finished on three-over himself, labelled it a “brutal test of golf”.

“I think the rough is incredibly penalising,” he said.

“Even for a guy like me, I can’t get out of it some of the times, depending on the lie. It was tough. It was a brutal test of golf.”

Originally published as Four of the six Australians combined to shoot 22-over in opening round of US Open at Oakmont