The U.S. Open featured two marquee groups, but only one marquee player.

Take Tiger Woods out of the equation and the top five players in the world were no match for unforgiving Olympic Club.

Then again, not many were.

The lead belonged to Michael Thompson, a 27-yearold in his first U.S. Open as a pro. He made seven birdies — that’s seven more than Luke Donald — for a 4-under 66 that gave him a three-shot lead over Woods and the four other lucky souls to manage to break par Thursday.

The buzz came from Woods.

Even as Thompson strung together four birdies on the back nine, Woods put on a clinic on the other side of the course on how to handle the toughest test in golf.

Woods was never out of position. None of his tee shots found the deep, nasty rough lining the fairways. There was hardly any stress in the most demanding of majors. With consecutive birdies late in his round, including a 35-foot putt that banged into the back of the cup, Woods opened with a 1- under 69 to raise hopes that he can finally end that fouryear drought in the majors.

For so many others, the game plan was simply to survive. Thirteen players shot in the 80s, and the average score was 74.9.

The best tribute to the toughness of Olympic was the top five players in the world. They combined to go 26-over par, which includes Woods at 69. Perhaps it was Ryo Ishikawa who best summed up the day after a hard-earned 71: “I’m very tired right now.”

Woods stood out on a day when the game’s best struggled mightily.

He was in the marquee group in the morning with four-time major champion Phil Mickelson and Masters champion Bubba Watson. Mickelson never found his opening tee that he hooked into the trees and shot 76. Watson could only say that Olympic “beat me up” on his way to a 78.

Donald failed to make a birdie in his round of 79. Rory McIlroy, the defending champion, bogeyed three of his last four holes for a 77 and then declined interview requests, instead speaking to a pool reporter. Lee Westwood was 4 over through six holes, and made an impressive rally for a 73.

Only six players managed to break par in the opening round, which would have come as a surprise to none of the players. After opening with a birdie, Joe Ogilvie turned to his caddie and said, “Seventy-one more pars and we’re hoisting the trophy.” He shot 73.

Woods and David Toms opened with 69 in the morning, with overcast conditions from a marine layer off the Pacific Ocean.

Graeme McDowell, who won the U.S. Open two years ago down the coast at Pebble Beach, Justin Rose and Nick Watney each had 69 in the afternoon.

The group at 70 included Jim Furyk, Matt Kuchar and 17-year-old Beau Hossler, already playing in his second U.S. Open.

Thompson’s game seems to work on this quirky, treelined course built on the side of a giant dune that separates the Pacific Ocean from Lake Merced.

He was runner-up in the 2007 U.S. Amateur at Olympic Club and couldn’t wait to get back.