With just one swing, D.A. Points did something few golfers had done before him: At 9 a.m. Thursday, the 1999 Illinois graduate hit the opening shot of the U.S. Open Championship at Torrey Pines.

However, sparse galleries in San Diego, Calif., reportedly stood in “near silence” after Points drove his tee shot down the fairway. It came as no surprise — after all, Tiger Woods wasn’t teeing off for another hour.

Points took advantage of softer morning conditions and shot an even-par 35 on the front nine. He stumbled as the wind increased and the course hardened, however, and four back-nine bogeys put the Pekin, Ill. native, at three-over-par 74 after his opening round.

Points was among three former Illini competing at Torrey Pines on Thursday.

1990 alumnus Steve Stricker began his day on the back nine of Torrey Pines and flirted with the front page of the leaderboard in the early going at four-under-par. However, the 18-year tour veteran with three top-five finishes at the Open also stumbled on his final nine holes of the day, shooting a six-over-par 41 to negate his solid start and finish with a 73.

Garrett Chaussard, a 2005 Illinois graduate, shot an 80 in his first-ever round in a U.S. Open after making the field through local and sectional qualifiers. The 24-year-old is currently tied for 136th place and in danger of missing the cut Friday.

However, neither Points nor Stricker lost touch with the leaders on a typically difficult day at the USGA’s premier championship. Narrow fairways and heavy rough put an unsurprising premium on accuracy, and the speed of the greens befuddled many competitors. Only 18 players in the 155-man field shot par or better in the first round, and 20 players failed to break 80. Defending champion Angel Cabrera, who outlasted the field at Oakmont last year, ballooned to a 79.

Woods, playing in his first tournament since arthroscopic knee surgery in April, recovered from two double bogeys to shoot one-over 72. His playing competitors also fared well, as San Diego native Phil Mickelson shot even-par 71 and world No. 3 Adam Scott carded a 73.

Relative unknowns Justin Hicks and Kevin Streelman share the lead at three-under-par 68 with three rounds remaining.