U.S. Open 2013 Watch LIVE STREAM: Results From Merion Golf Club

The U.S. Open is playing much more like the Stanley Cup than the NBA Finals. Not many golfers are managing to stay under par at Merion Country Club on the outskirts of Philadelphia. Only five golfers managed to shoot below par during the first round of the tournament on Thursday. 

Phil Mickleson topped the leader board, hitting a "mere" three under. Luke Donald and Mathew Goggin managed to shoot two-under. Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods, the two most preeminent names in golf, both shot three over par. Bad weather provided several interruptions to play, and Woods and others ended up finishing their first rounds on Friday, prior to beginning their second rounds later during the day. 

The high scores have come as a surprise to many, who considered Merion to be a pushover for the world's best golfers. Although long a respected course, modern clubs have made longer courses more feared among Tour players. Merion, even from its farthest tees, is less than 7,000 yards in total, dwarfed by previous U.S. Open hosts. Some suggested that the U.S. Open record of shooting a 63 and beating Johnny Miller's 1963 record for a round at the Open would fall. 

Reality suggested otherwise. 

"I don't think anybody in any commentary box has ever given this golf course enough respect," said Ian Poulter, a British pro. "They were joking around, laughing about 63s and 2s. Just look at the [scoreboard]. I mean, they need to respect this golf course. It's brutal."

Merion is renowned in golf lore for its previous championships. It was here in 1930 that Ben Hogan finished off his Grand Slam, winning every major event in the sport that season. 

Watch live score updates at USopen.com.