Dustin Johnson's U.S. Open Surge Fades

Dustin Johnson showed flashes of his past brilliance at the U.S. Open, briefly tying for the lead with four consecutive birdies on Thursday. These spectacular shots came during a golden hour just before twilight. However, his momentum faltered on the fifth and sixth holes. A missed opportunity on a par-5 followed by a three-putt for double-bogey dropped him four shots behind the leader.

Johnson, who won the U.S. Open ten years ago, ended the day in a seven-way tie for second place with three holes remaining in his first round. His current U.S. Open exemption, earned in 2016, expires after this year's tournament, adding significance to his performance. Despite joining LIV Golf years ago, Johnson is now in contention at a major for the first time in at least three years.