Oosthuizen is at 2-under par, tied with Sweden's Johan Edfors and Americans Jeff Overton and Ryan Palmer, who are playing in the same threesome Thursday at Congressional Country Club.
Defending champion Graeme McDowell and Ernie Els were part of a seven-way tie at 1 under. Els won the U.S. Open in 1997, the last time it was played at Congressional.
The USGA put the world's top three players — Luke Donald, Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer — in the same group. Donald briefly shared the lead at 2 under but made five bogeys to fall to 3 over after his first nine holes.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
BETHESDA, Md. (AP) — If birdies are supposed to be hard to come by at the U.S. Open, Johan Edfors isn't getting the message.
The Swede made three over his first six holes to take the early lead Thursday at the season's second major.
Edfors, a European Tour player whose best finish at the U.S. Open is 27th, was at 2-under par with half the field on the course at overcast Congressional Country Club.
He was one shot ahead of a pack of 10 players, including defending champion Graeme McDowell, former PGA champion Y.E. Yang, British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen and Ernie Els, who won the U.S. Open the last time it was played at Congressional, in 1997.
On a calm day that started with a green-softening hour or so of light rain, birdies were available around a course that was expected to yield very few. That was especially true on the par-3 10th. The 218-yard downhill hole over water was supposed to be one of the toughest tests, especially as a starting point for half the players. But the tee box was moved up 19 yards, and it yielded five birdies over the first 90 minutes of play.
Among those making birdie on 10 were world No. 1 Luke Donald and No. 3 Martin Kaymer. They were playing with No. 2 Lee Westwood in the morning's glamour pairing.
