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BETHESDA, Md. - Roberto Castro missed the U.S. Open at Merion. It felt as if he was playing one Thursday in the AT&T National at Congressional. The course that has hosted three U.S. Opens looked as though it could hold another in a moments notice. Only a dozen players shot in the 60s, with Castro leading the way at a 5-under 66 that required some of his best golf. He made three straight birdies late in his round with a 20-foot putt, a perfect 3-wood into a par 5 and a chip-in. "Its very similar in that theres not a lot of birdies out there," Castro said. "Theres not many good breaks or bad breaks to be had out there. If you drive it in the rough, you drove it in the rough. If you hit it in the fairway, you can go from there." The average score was just over 73, despite cloud cover for most of the day leading to soft conditions and only a light wind. Billy Horschel, who tied for fourth in the real U.S. Open two weeks ago, began his day with a 50-foot birdie putt, added a pair of birdies over the next three holes and then hung on for a 68. That was the best score among the early starters. Bud Cauley and Graham DeLaet of Weyburn, Sask., each had a 68 in the afternoon. DeLaet finished third at the Travelers Championship on Sunday. He was well ahead of his fellow Canadians after the first round at Bethesda. Ottawas Brad Fritsch finished with a 1-over 72, just ahead of David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., and Calgarys Stephen Ames, who each finished with a 72. "Its like another U.S. Open," Horschel said. "Off the fairways, the rough is thick. Fortunately, the greens are soft so theyre really receptive. Its still a tough golf course." The eight players at 69 included Jim Furyk, 19-year-old Jordan Spieth and Brandt Snedeker, whose round included a birdie on the par-5 ninth hole in which he covered more than the 635 yards it was playing. Snedeker snap-hooked his drive into the rough and was blocked by trees, leaving him no choice but to chip backward or play down the adjacent fourth hole. He hit hybrid down the fourth, and just his luck, wound up on the members tee. From about 180 yards, he hammered a 6-iron through more trees, and the big roar told him he had reached the green. From there, he made a 55-foot birdie putt. Simple as that. "Kind of stealing a couple there is what it feels like," he said. Davis Love III had an 83 with a sore hip and then withdrew, not wanting to risk further injury. Rory Sabbatini withdrew with a sore back after he was 8 over in 12 holes. Charlie Beljan had an 84. Lucas Glover, a former U.S. Open champion, called it "the most boring round of PGA Tour golf Ive heard." Heard? "I heard two cheers across the whole golf course all morning," Glover said after a hard-earned 71. "They definitely werent for my group." There were no tricks at Congressional, and there certainly was no faking it. Masters champion Adam Scott hurt himself with an ordinary day by his standards off the tee and wound up with a 73. Hunter Mahan hit only six fairways -- hes one of the best drivers in golf -- and shot a 75. Officials cut the rough Wednesday, though its thickness presented the bigger problem than the height of the grass. Its tougher than Congressional was for the U.S. Open two years ago, when the course was relatively soft throughout the week. Rory McIlroy played better than anyone that week and won by eight shot at a record 16-under 268. This was more of a grind. Castro made only one bogey, and that was from the fairway. After a weak drive, he put his second shot on the 11th into the water, and saved bogey with a chip to tap-in range. He bounced back with consecutive birdies, and twice made solid par saves before his run of birdies on his back nine. But it was a quiet day for the most part. "Two U.S. Opens in three weeks," said George McNeill, who had a 71 while playing with Jonas Blixt and Ben Curtis. "And before that, we got to play the U.S. Open at Muirfield (Village), too. It was fairly quiet out there. You have a few cheers here and there. But we had the hot dog group. Thats where the fans are looking at the pairing sheet and go, Curtis, Blixt, McNeill. Lets go get a hot dog." It didnt help that Tiger Woods wasnt around, unable to play because of a sore left elbow that will keep him out of competition until the British Open next month. Woods won last year at 8-under 276, one of the higher winning scores on tour in 2012. "You dont usually see first-round scores on a PGA Tour event only be 3-under leading after the morning wave," Horschel said. "It shows you how tough this golf course is, shows you how long the rough is." Horschel, though, said he likes it that way because it doesnt feel like a putting contest. As for not having Woods around? Horschel doesnt look at the AT&T National any differently without him. "Tiger is Tiger. Hes just another guy," Horschel said. "Hes just another player out there. For me, thinking about someone, how great he is, is just a distraction for me. But it is a disappointment that hes not playing out there because obviously it is his event. The crowds love him to death, and he does spice up the event a little bit." Its the second time in the last seven weeks that Castro got off to a great start. He had a course record-tying 63 on the TPC Sawgrass for a three-shot lead at The Players Championship, and he wasnt sure which was tougher. "They were totally different rounds," he said. "The one at Sawgrass, I hit it 3 feet eight or nine times. And the one today was more of a normal, lower round where I made some putts. Its hard to compare these two golf courses. That one was playing firm and fast. This one is just long and soft." DIVOTS: Nick Watney holed out from 148 yards with a wedge on the fourth hole for an eagle on his way to a 70. ... K.J. Choi celebrated his birthday Thursday, at least based on the Korean calendar. The lunar calendar birthday for the 43-year-old was May 19. Either way, heres how Choi counts it: "Every year, I get shorter," he said. ... Every player made at least one bogey.Latest Adidas Basketball Shoes . PETERSBURG, Fla. Adidas Basketball Shoes Wholesale . -- There were so many positives from the Orlando Magics first victory of the season that it was hard for coach Jacque Vaughn to stop praising his players. http://www.cheapnmdsneakersireland.com/adidas-basketball-shoes.html . First off, the fans ripped the Cubbies introduction of a fuzzy new kid-friendly mascot named "Clark". Adidas Basketball Shoes Ireland . But Bourque, who has missed three games with a lower-body injury, wont be in the lineup when the Habs travel to Buffalo to take on the Sabres on Wednesday. Adidas Basketball Shoes Discount . The Lightning are 2-0 so far on a four-game road trip, giving the club five straight wins as the guest and improving Tampas away record this season to 11-8-2.NEW YORK -- Tennis is a lovely, sometimes lyrical sport, but it takes a terrible toll on a body. For successful players, it is a vicious cycle: The deeper they go into draws, the more matches they play, the more damage they incur.For Dominic Thiem, 2016 has been a season of discovery -- and a series of teachable moments regarding the importance of restraint.With a string of minor titles, the Austrian blew into the top 10 at the age of 22 and couldnt seem to play enough tennis. He was a semifinalist at Roland Garros but hit the wall hard, beginning at Wimbledon.Two days after his 23rd birthday, playing his ATP World Tour-leading 69th match, the No. 8 seed looked sluggish and weary. After only 14 games, Thiem retired from Mondays fourth-round match with Juan Martin del Potro with a right knee injury.The unseeded del Potro, who was ahead by a score of 6-3, 3-2, received a wild card from the USTA into the main draw. With a ranking of No. 142, he is the lowest-ranked quarterfinalist here since Jimmy Connors (No. 174) ripped through to the semifinals 25 years ago at the age of 39.I didnt expect to be in quarters in my second Grand Slam after my comeback, del Potro said. Im playing good tennis. My level is growing up every day. Im so glad to be part of the last eight in this tournament, and that I will have the chance to play another big challenge after tomorrow.Everything can happen. So I will try to be there.Thiem said that the injury probably came about as a result of blisters on the toes of his right foot. Unable to put the usual pressure on his toes, he compensated and started running differently. The pain in the knee, which began three days earlier, became too much. Thiem said he would undergo an MRI later Monday.After a 6-5 record going back to Wimbledon, Thiem said he would adjust his 2017 schedule.For sure I will adapt it, Thiem said. Yeah, I never expected to play that many matches, of course, this year. But it happened obviously, and for sure next year Im going to change it up a little bit.Coming out of a hellish vortex that included four wrist surgeries -- three on his left wrist along -- del Potro, 27, didnt step on thhe court for his first match this year until mid-February in Delray Beach, Florida.dddddddddddd By that time, Thiem had already played four events, including Buenos Aires, where he beat Rafael Nadal and won the title.This was only del Potros 30th match of the year, and he has yet to lose a set here. With Thiems retirement, del Potro has only needed 10-plus sets to reach the quarters. Lucas Pouille, on the other side of the draw, by contrast, played 19 to get to this stage.This result will come as a relief to del Potro, who called for the trainer on two occasions to work on his right shoulder. Hell have a little extra recovery time for Wednesdays quarterfinal match against Stan Wawrinka, who beat Illya Marchenko?in four sets.Del Potro has now played 10 matches inside a month, including six at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. He beat No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the first round there and took away the silver medal, losing to Andy Murray in the final.At Wimbledon, del Potro was hitting mostly a one-handed backhand, but as the summer has worn on, his confidence in the left wrist has grown. Against Thiem, virtually every backhand involved both hands.Of course the forehand is amazing, and also the service is really good, Thiem said of del Potro. Backhand probably not like when he was at his best, but I think its getting better and better.Del Potros greatest achievement came right here, when he beat Roger Federer in the 2009 US Open final. His weapons were breathtaking, his future seemingly limitless.Now, of course, del Potro is a cautionary tale that has evolved into the saga of a rousing comeback.If he manages to find a way past No. 3 Wawrinka and, presumably, No. 2 Murray, del Potro would be the first wild card to reach a US Open final and the lowest-ranked Grand Slam finalist since rankings were instituted in 1973.I was close to retired before my third surgery, del Potro said. When I made the decision to do the [fourth] surgery, I always believe I will come back, for sure.And now Im here. Im playing free. ' ' '