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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. Air Max 270 Cheap Online . Scott Kazmir allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning and the Indians maintained their hold on an AL wild-card spot with a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night. Yeezy Boost 350 V3 For Sale . But the quarterback hopes to stay involved in football after officially calling it quits Tuesday. "Id love to look at those opportunities as they arise," Pierce said in an interview from his Winnipeg eatery. http://www.brandshoescheaponline.com/wholesale-air-max-china/max-270-react-clearance-sale.html . After Martin Skrtel put the Reds in front from close range at Stamford Bridge after only four minutes, Hazard hit back in the 17th with a superb strike. Etoo gave Jose Mourinhos team a decisive lead from Oscars back pass in the 34th. Balenciaga Shoes Wholesale China . Artturi Lehkonen, Joni Nikko and Ville Leskinen had the other goals for Finland (1-0) while Juuse Saros stopped 28 shots. Tim Robin Johnsgard had the lone goal for Norway (0-2). Cheap Nike Air Max China Andy Murray took the row about equal pay in tennis onto Twitter as he became embroiled in a heated exchange with Ukrainian rival Sergiy Stakhovsky. Stakhovsky is a long-standing and vocal critic of equal prize money for women, a topic that has come to the fore again over the past few days following comments from former Indian Wells tournament director Raymond Moore.Moore resigned on Tuesday after saying the womens game rides on the coattails of the men and that female players should go down every night on [their] knees and thank God that Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal were born. Sergiy Stakhovsky became involved in a heated exchange with Murray on Twitter Moore apologised before subsequently leaving his post, and equal prize money dominated the conversation at Tuesdays media day at the Miami Open.Murray is the leading advocate among male players for equality in the game and was predictably forthright on the subject.The world No 2 said Moores comments made no sense at all and also challenged Novak Djokovic - who claimed the ATP should push for more money because mens matches are more popular - although the Serb later took to social media to apologise for his comments.Murray responded with a pointed dig at Stakhovsky, the player he beat in the US Open junior final in 2004, saying a lot more people would watch a match at Wimbledon involving Laura Robson than the Ukrainian. We take a look back at last years Miami Open final where Novak Djokovic beat Andy Murray in three sets In a lengthy exchange on Twitter, Stakhovsky said to Murray: Thanks for mentioning me today.ddddddddddddNeed some attention. Although your argument fails the moment we leave UK territory.As soon as we leave UK territory more people are watching you than Laura? Really? replied Murray.Stakhovsky, ranked 115, said: The venue in Kiev is ready. All you need to do is convince Laura to come.Murray then brought up a match between the two in Davis Cup in 2006, which he won 6-3 6-2 7-5 to clinch the tie for Britain. Top women hit back at Djokovic Several top womens tennis players have hit out at Novak Djokovic for saying men deserve more money I played you in a Davis Cup match in Ukraine and there must have been a thousand people there max! said Murray.Stakhovsky responded by questioning how many empty seats there were, to which Murray said: How many empty seats were there Serge? I wasnt counting, was focused on the getting the W (win).Murray will begin his campaign in Miami on Saturday against either Borna Coric or Denis Istomin.Watch the action from the Miami Open. Coverage begins from 3pm on Sky Sports 1 HD on Wednesday and from 3pm on Sky Sports 3 HD on Thursday. Also See: Sky Live: Miami Open Djokovic sorry for remarks Murray: Females merit equal pay Indian Wells boss Moore quits ' ' '