Matt Wallace’s first competitive taste of major championship golf has ended with a four-over-par opening round of 76 at the US Open.

The Moor Park Golf Club professional, who qualified for the 117th edition of the event at Walton Heath, was in one of the first groups out at Erin Hills.

Having teed off at the 10th, the 27-year-old was in solid shape by the 18th when he reached the turn in one-over on the longest course in the history of the tournament, his sole dropped shot on the 'front' nine coming at the 526-yard par four 17th.

It was the 497-yard par four third that was to prove particularly costly for Wallace as he made a double bogey six, before another shot went at the 514-yard par five fourth. But the Pinner resident, who hit 86 per cent of the fairways in regulation and 67 per cent of the greens, dug in and completed the rest of his round at the Wisconsin course in par golf.

Four-over-par left Wallace in a tie for 70th at the time of writing, alongside such as fellow Englishman Tyrrell Hatton, one of the pre-tournament favourites in Spaniard Jon Rahm and Ryder Cup player Thomas Pieters.

Rickie Fowler currently leads the way after a superb course record seven-under opening round of 65, two shots clear of fellow Americans Brian Harman and Brooks Kopeka and leading overseas challenger, England’s Tommy Fleetwood.

Wallace’s eve-of-tournament thoughts can be read here.