US Open 2015: Tiger Woods cards his worst score at a major since 1996 as Dustin Johnson and Henrik Stenson lead the way

Stenson and Johnson card a five-under-par 65 to lead the field but Woods sees his struggles continue

Henrik Stenson celebrates after sinking a 30-foot putt on the 18th (Getty Images)

Sweden's Henrik Stenson carded his lowest score ever in a major as Tiger Woods recorded his highest in the US Open on a day of contrasting fortunes at Chambers Bay

Seeking to become the fifth European winner in the last six years, Stenson birdied four of his last six holes for a five-under-par 65 to share the lead with American Dustin Johnson.

But there was more misery for former world number one Woods, who said on Tuesday he was willing to endure "short-term suffering for long-term gain" after coming into the event on the back of the worst score (85) and four-round total (302) of his career in the Memorial Tournament.

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Woods carded eight bogeys, one triple bogey and a solitary birdie in an opening 80, three shots more than his previous highest score while still an amateur in 1996.

Tiger Woods carded his worst ever score at a major since turning pro (Getty Images)

The only consolation for the 39-year-old was that he outscored playing partner Rickie Fowler, who shot 81 despite being inches away from an albatross on the par-four 12th. With Louis Oosthuizen shooting 77, Woods's group were a combined 28 over par.

"The bright side is at least I kicked Rickie's butt today," joked Woods, who has been making swing changes with consultant Chris Como. "I fought hard and that was my number. I could not have grinded any harder than that. I know when I do it right, it's so easy. I just need to do it more often."

Italy's Francesco Molinari, Scotland's Marc Warren and Masters champion Jordan Spieth were three shots off the pace after rounds of 68, with the 51-year-old duo of Colin Montgomerie and Miguel Angel Jimenez another stroke back alongside Phil Mickelson, who needs a first US Open win after six runners-up finishes to complete the career grand slam.

Dustin Johnson shares the lead with Henrik Stenson after day one (Getty Images)

World number one Rory McIlroy struggled on the greens in an opening 72, while Sergio Garcia admitted the putting surfaces were "as bad as they look on TV" after finishing level par.

The greens were not the only difficulty either, with Stenson's caddie Gareth Lord injuring his left wrist on Wednesday and Stephen Gallacher forced to replace his caddie Damian Moore due to a leg injury suffered on the same day.

"Walking off the 16th he took the fall, both feet in the air, and got trapped with his wrist under the bag," Stenson said. "He's in a cast now. It might be broken or just torn ligaments.

"He's not in a good place with the hand, but he managed to caddie and did a good job for me anyway. I had to caddie for him a little bit, as well. It's definitely dangerous with those slopes and the grass gets shiny and lays down. It gets a bit like ice skating out there."

Stenson and caddie Gareth Lord sporting his injured left wrist (Getty Images)

Johnson threatened to equal the lowest score in major championship history - 63 - when he reached six under par with two holes to play, but miscued a chip on the par-five eighth and bogeyed the ninth.

The 30-year-old won the WGC-Cadillac Championship in March, his first victory since taking six months out of the game to deal with "personal challenges", a move which ruled him out of the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles and prompted allegations - which he has always refuted - of a positive test for cocaine.

PA