The Latest: Older generation in contention at US Open

UNIVERSITY PLACE, Wash. (AP) — The latest from the U.S. Open (all times local):

8:45 a.m.

Much of the focus at the U.S. Open this week has been on golf’s latest generation, the 20-something stars such as Rory McIlroy and Jason Spieth.

Turns out the geriatric generation is having its say.

Colin Montgomerie, who turns 52 next week, opened with a 1-under 69. So did 51-year-old Miguel Angel Jimenez, whose bizarre stretching regimen sure seems to be paying off.

Jimenez finished second in the U.S. Open in 2000, when Spieth was 6 years old.

Two-time U.S. Open champion Lee Janzen, who turns 51 in August, was medalist in his qualifier in Purchase, New York. He shot 73 in the opening round.

When asked whether he had any doubts about competing, Janzen replied: “Like, why would I try and qualify for an 8,000 yard golf course, because I’m playing with old guys now?”

This week, playing with the old guys isn’t such a slight.

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8:05 a.m.

It is commonplace for big names to play together, particularly at majors. It makes it easier for fans on the course to see the stars and it helps simplify the television broadcast.

Players also tend to feed off one another.

So, you get Masters champion Jordan Spieth playing with Jason Day and Justin Rose at the U.S. Open, all in a group just ahead of Tiger Woods, Rickie Fowler and Louis Oosthuizen.

Those two groups could not have been more different Thursday.

Spieth, Day and Rose certainly fed off each other, a combined 2 under in the tough afternoon conditions. Woods, Fowler and Oosthuizen also fed off each other — to the tune of 28 over.

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7:30 a.m.

Let’s hope Robert Streb knows where he’s going.

When he showed up Sunday, he wasn’t aware of a back tee on No. 1 that allows it to be played as a par 5. That’s the case for the second round Friday.

The USGA has switched the par on two holes — No. 1 will be a par 5 that likely will feature a blind shot into the green for those who try to reach in two. No. 18 goes from a par 5 to a par 4.

Either way, Chambers Bay remains a par 70.

The first hole will be about 600 yards on Friday (it was 501 yards on Thursday). The closing hole will be about 525 yards for the second round. It was 617 yards on Thursday and reachable by most players — Tiger Woods was an exception.

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7 a.m.

With winds at a standstill and a slight mist rolling off Puget Sound, the second round of the U.S. Open got underway at Chambers Bay just south of Seattle on Friday.

Dustin Johnson and Henrik Stenson had the lead at 5 under after the opening round, though both of them played in the morning Thursday. The wind kicked up, greens hardened and conditions changed dramatically by the time the second wave teed off in the afternoon.

Will they have their chance to go low going off early in Round 2?

Better question: Will Tiger Woods rebound from his 10-over 80, an opening round that saw him send a club boomeranging into the fescue (an accident), top a fairway metal into a bunker and in general look like a 20-handicap hacker much of the afternoon?

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