Golf: Almost perfect round has Smail one shot from lead

US Open-bound David Smail produced an almost flawless performance to move within one stroke of the lead after the opening round of the Japan golf tour's UBS Championship yesterday.

Largely avoiding punishing rough similar to what he will probably encounter at Bethpage in a fortnight, Smail carded five birdies in a four-under 67 on the picturesque Shishido Hills course northeast of Tokyo.

"It plays long, the fairways are quite tight and there's rough," said the 39-year-old from Hamilton.

"It's pretty similar to US Open conditions, although Bethpage might be even more extreme.

"I was pretty focused out there. I hit it on the fairways and greens and putted pretty solid too.

"I only had one bad lie (at the 14th hole, where he made his only bogey)."

Smail earned his ticket to Bethpage at a US Open sectional qualifier in Japan last week, but missed the cut in the following tournament.

"Last week was a strange one," a five-times winner on the Japan Tour said.

"It's a tough course and with that wind blowing, I managed to hit every tree out there.

"I had the weekend off, came out Monday, hit a few balls and started to feel a bit better. Hopefully it continues for the rest of the week."

Smail, who will play in Japan again next week, will not arrive in New York until the Monday of Open week, less than 72 hours before the first round.

"I've tried going over early, all sorts of ways," he said.

"I don't think I'll be tired. I'll be excited to be there so I might as well keep the game going."

It will be Smail's second US Open, after he previously played at Olympia Fields in 2003.

Norihiko Furusho led on 66 with half the field back in the clubhouse, while Eddie Lee, the only other Kiwi in the field, also had a good day, shooting 70.

- NZPA