Mike Weir Leading US Open After 64

The name Craig Thomas probably doesn't ring a bell with a lot of golf fans. And why would it? Well, it just so happens that Thomas currently holds the non-PGA Tour tournament record at Bethpage Black, shooting a 64 in the -- you ready for this -- North Fork Bank New York State Open Championship.

Friday, at Bethpage Black, Mike Weir was trying his hardest to make Craig look like a dud. The problem was, the Black course has teeth, and Weir couldn't avoid its nastiness on his way home. Six-under par and sneaking up on a lot of records (lowest score in a U.S. Open is 63, lowest score ever in an Open at Bethpage), Weir made a double-bogey on the 408-yard par-4 6th hole. No problem. Weir birdied his last two holes to shoot the 13th 64 in U.S. Open history, and the first since the second round at Olympia Fields in 2003.

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It was Weir's lowest round ever at a U.S. Open, highlighted by a dead-center birdie putt on the last hole that had the extremely jubilant Long Island crowd cheering like it was Sunday.

Weir wasn't the only past major champion surprising folks at Bethpage Black. David Duval, who has been making small waves with his golf game the last few months shot a 3-under 67 to tie fellow British Open champion Todd Hamilton. Both are a shot back of Peter Hanson, whom you may remember qualified for the U.S. Open after making a hole-in-one in a playoff at sectional qualifying.

The leaderboard, like most on the first day of U.S. Open play, has a little bit of everything. Ricky Barnes, who was in contention after two days of the U.S. Open as an amateur back in 2003 before a third round 79, is calmly 2-under. Adam Scott, Phil Mickelson and David Toms are big names that broke 70 by a shot in their opening rounds.

While the afternoon guys seem to be tearing up a vulnerable Bethpage Black, Tiger Woods sits back with his 74 knowing that the easier the course plays today, the tougher it will be for him tomorrow. Weir, along with all the guys just finishing their round, will be back on the course for their second round this afternoon, so don't be surprised if the scores continue to get more and more red.