US Open golf: Marc Warren starts his first major with a birdie

MARC Warren started his first-ever major appearance with a birdie and was up among the leaders after covering his opening ten holes in one-under.

But the Glaswegian eventually signed for a three-over 73 after dropping four shots in his last eight holes at the Olympic Club. Warren, who came through a qualifier at Walton Heath a fortnight ago to get into a major for the first time at the age of 31, got off to the perfect start with a birdie-3 on the 449 yard ninth and was still going well at one- over after 13 holes.

However, bogeys at the fifth – his 15th – and the eighth – his last – took a bit of the gloss off the round.

Martin Laird, the only other Scot in the field, was among the afternoon starters. In contrast to Warren, he opened with a bogey-5 at the first but then followed that with two straight pars.