TO SPAUN'S EARLY JOY

JJ SPAUN made light of the treacherous Oakmont course to claim the early clubhouse lead yesterday.

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Spaun, who lost to Rory Mcllroy in a dramatic three-hole playoff in The Players Championship earlier this season, flew out the gate.

Despite all the talk surrounding the course's difficulty, Spaun posted four birdies on his front nine en route to a four-under first round.

The one-time PGA Tour winner got off to an exceptional start, chipping in to move up the leaderboard before adding birdies on the par-five 12th, the par-three 16th and the par-four 17th.

"This course is only going to get tougher," said the American. "I just think I'm trying to feel like I have nothing to lose.