(CNN) They mostly walked off shell-shocked at Shinnecock Hills, humbled by the difficulty of a brutal golf course in US Open conditions.
Only four players beat par in stiff winds blowing across Long Island as world No. 1 and 2016 champion Dustin Johnson, Russell Henley, Scott Piercy and Ian Poulter tied for the lead at one under on day one of the 118th US Open.
Historic Shinnecock lived up to its savage reputation and the supergroup of Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth and Phil Mickelson acted as the poster boys for heartache in the Hamptons.
Tiger Woods followed later with his own tale of woe, 10 years after winning the last of his 14 majors at the 2008 US Open.
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Organizer the United States Golf Association strives to make the US Open the toughest test in golf with slick greens and long rough. Knowing it's going to be difficult is one thing, actually coping with the challenge is another, according to Poulter.
"The US Open is extremely stressful," said the Englishman, who is still chasing a first major title. "You've got to have patience and you have to somehow enjoy the challenge."
His countryman Justin Rose, the 2013 champion and world No. 3 who carded a one-over 71, added: "It's a different type of enjoyment, right?
"I enjoy the battle. I enjoy the fight. I enjoy the grind, really. I do enjoy it, especially when you're on the right side of the fight.
"When you get a bit cut up and bruised, it can change pretty quick."
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US Open 2018
Brooks Koepka became the seventh man to win back-to-back US Open titles after overcoming a testing and controversial week at Shinnecock Hills.
The 28-year-old Floridian beat England's Tommy Fleetwood by one shot with world No.1 Dustin Johnson two back and Masters champion Patrick Reed three adrift.
Koepka is the first player since Curtis Strange in 1988 and 1989 to win back-to-back US Open titles.
Despite having at least a share of the lead at the end of each of the first three rounds, Johnson was unable to add a second US Open title to 2016's breakthrough major win.
Fleetwood took advantage of the USGA's kinder set-up following a controversial Saturday to shoot only the sixth 63 in US Open history 45 years after Johnny Miller posted the first in 1973 at Oakmont.
Phil Mickelson was back a day after sparking the "putt-gate" controversy when he hit his still moving ball back towards the hole. The left-hander, who improved on Saturday's 81 with a closing 69 to end +16, declined to offer any further comment on the incident.
Day three: Birthday boy Phil Mickelson (48) sparked controversy as he ran after a still moving putt and hit it back towards the hole. Mickelson later said he was fed up with going back and forth and "you take your two-shot penalty and move on." He denied he was being disrespectful.
Mickelson's playing partner Andrew Johnston said he had never seen a situation like that before. "His body acted quicker than his brain," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
Dustin Johnson led by four overnight but endured some mid-round demons before fighting back. The world No.1 goes into Sunday's final round in a four-way tie for the lead with Brooks Koepka, Daniel Berger and Tony Finau.
American Daniel Berger shot a four-under 66 in favorable conditions Saturday morning and jumped up the leaderboard when the later starters struggled in stronger winds.
Day two: Then and now. World No.1 Dustin Johnson led by four at halfway as former top-ranked Tiger Woods missed the cut at Shinnecock Hills.
Johnson was imperious, carding a 67 to surge to four under -- the only player under par after two torrid days on Long Island.
Woods, the champion 10 years ago, was looking to make amends for a poor opening round but the three-time winner slipped further back in his first US Open since 2015.
Rory McIlroy improved on his opening 80 with a round of 70 but still missed the cut by two Friday.
Jordan Spieth made a late scramble to make the cut with four straight birdies but he missed a short putt on the last to ensure an early checkout from Long Island.
Phil Mickelson made the weekend and will play in front of his adoring New York crowds on his 48th birthday Saturday as he chases the one major he needs to complete the set.
England's Ian Poulter inched to within one shot of Johnson but made a triple-bogey on the 17th and added a bogey on 18 to undo all his good work.
England's Tommy Fleetwood, the world No. 12, fired the best round of the week so far with a 66 to reach one over, beating Thursday's best score by three strokes.
Day one: A stiff breeze and the savage Shinnecock Hills course on Long Island shredded the nerves and the hopes of some of golf's top stars on day one of the US Open.
World No.1 and 2016 champion Dustin Johnson was one of only four players to finish under par out of a field of 156. The big-hitting American shot 69 to share a four-way tie for the lead.
Englishman Ian Poulter was another on one under despite labeling it "extremely difficult."
Former world No.1 Tiger Woods, playing his first US Open since 2015 after back surgeries, drew huge crowds at the historic Hamptons venue.
Woods, who won the last of his 14 majors 10 years ago, was under the cosh from the start, amassing a triple-bogey seven at the first and adding a bogey at the second.
The 42-year-old Woods fought back to reach the turn at three over but let slip two double bogeys on the back nine and ended with an eight-over 78.
Rory McIlroy (left), Jordan Spieth (center) and Phil Mickelson formed a big-name trio on Thursday morning but the supergroup couldn't hit the right notes.
McIlroy, the 2011 champion, struggled to an opening 80, which at 10 over par was his worse score in a major.
Spieth, the 2015 winner, took 78, while six-time runner-up Mickelson shot 77 as he chases the final leg of the career grand slam.
'Dug deep'
Woods, playing his first US Open since 2015 after multiple back surgeries, put himself under the cosh from the start.
The former world No.1 began with a triple-bogey seven after taking two to chip back onto the green following an overhit second shot to the first. The 42-year-old dropped another shot at the second, but to his credit, Woods then dug in his heels to arrest the slide.
He made a birdie at the fifth and added fours pars to reach the turn in just three over.
However, Woods dropped a shot at the short 11th and four-putted for a double-bogey six on the 13th.
And when he sliced a drive into hay on the 14th it set in train another double bogey. All of a sudden the three-time US Open champion had plummeted to eight over, burned by three bad holes and a badly misfiring short game.
"I drove it pretty darn good for most of the day," Woods told reporters. "Just never really took advantage of the opportunities. Making a triple and two doubles, not very good."
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McIlroy was certainly bloodied. The four-time major champion and 2011 US Open winner posted his highest ever score in majors -- relative to par -- with a 10-over round of 80.
The wind will need to blow firmly in McIlroy's favor Friday if he is to avoid a third straight cut in US Opens.
READ: Rory McIlroy -- 'I know I can do better'
Firefighter
Playing partner Spieth, who won the US Open in 2015, took 78 and couldn't get back to the practice range fast enough, barely stopping to tell reporters it was "very difficult" and he "could have played better."
Completing the triumvirate, Mickelson opened with a round of 77 in his bid to finally land a US Open title after a record six runner-up spots. The left-hander, who will be 48 Saturday, insisted in the build-up he wasn't trying to win the tournament Thursday, but he is likely to have put paid to his chances of completing the grand slam of all four majors with a first US Open.
Australia's former world No.1s Jason Day and Adam Scott also suffered at Shinnecock Thursday, with rounds of 78 and 79 respectively, while world No.5 Jon Rahm shot 78.
However, second-ranked Justin Thomas, playing alongside Woods and Johnson, ended in the mix at four over with Masters champion Patrick Reed at three over.
Another player still right in contention was Massachusets firefighter Matt Parziale, who qualified by winning the US Mid-Amateur title last year. The 31-year-old defied the conditions and beat many of the world's best to end five over.
Goosen wins tumultuous 2004 US Open
South African Retief Goosen won an electric and controversial US Open the last time it was held at Shinnecock Hills on Long Island in 2004.
Goosen and Irish caddie Colin Byrne faced a barrage of abuse from a raucous New York crowd as they battled home hero Phil Mickelson on a fast and fiery final day. "They were shouting insults to his face on the Sunday. It was quite hostile," Byrne told CNN.
Left-hander Mickelson was the reigning Masters champion and was bidding to win the US Open for a first time after two runner-up spots.
Shinnecock Hills is an uber-exclusive golf club in the blueblood heart of the Hamptons at the eastern end of New York's Long Island.
Conditions were hot and windy, making seemingly good shots end up in difficult spots or bound through greens into trouble. "It was carnage, scores were outrageous," says Byrne.
Goosen held a two-shot overnight lead but had to contend with a difficult course, a fired-up Mickelson and a jingoistic crowd on the last day. "The more they abused him the better he got. That was the worst thing they could have done," says Byrne.
"Guys were running up as he was coming off the green, shouting at him to three putt, or saying 'all yours to lose,' just nasty stuff and everything in his face," added Byrne.
Goosen's countryman and playing partner in the final group, Ernie Els, shot himself out of contention with a closing 80 but intervened at times to keep troublemakers at bay.
At the same time, US Open organizer the USGA had underestimated conditions and had to react when some holes, notably the seventh green, became so slick it was impossible for balls to stay on it.
Play was held up while greens staff watered the course.
Then world No.1 Tiger Woods, a seven-time major champion, finished tied 17th as he endured a second straight year without adding to his major tally.
Goosen overcame a host of obstacles at Shinnecock Hills to win his second US Open three years after his first.
When the US Open was last played at Shinnecock Hills in 2004, the course became so slick the staff had to water greens on the final day to ensure balls could hold the putting surfaces.
Suitably chastized, the USGA is adamant it has conditions under control this time around.
"To some extent, the golf course and the USGA can do its part, and mother nature can do her part. She's got a seat at the table," said Jeff Hall, the USGA's managing director of rules and Open championships, on the eve of the tournament.
"We're confident this should be a marvellous test."
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Marvellous is not the word many would use. Test most definitely is.