SAMMAMISH, Wash. — The fans following Fred Couples and Tom Watson early Thursday morning were sometimes six- and seven-deep, wedging themselves between tree trunks and ducking under limbs.

Very quietly, and without much attention, Bruce Vaughan was the player taking early control of the U.S. Senior Open.

Vaughan opened with a 4-under 66 on Thursday to take a two-stroke lead.

The 2008 Senior British Open champion made just two bogeys in a steady round, while favorites such as Couples and Watson were far more shaky.

"It’s just the first day. I mean, there is a lot of golf left and a lot of trouble out there for the next three days," Vaughan said.

Couples nearly saw his round unravel when a blocked tee shot on No. 1 — his 10th hole — plugged in a fern bush at the base of two cedars. After taking an unplayable lie, Couples managed bogey, but made another two holes later to fall to 3 over. The 50-year-old star strung together three straight birdies to salvage an even-par round of 70.

Loren Roberts and amateur Tim Jackson, the leader a year ago after two rounds, shot 68s. Bernhard Langer, the British Senior Open winner Sunday, and Tom Lehman were another stroke back along with Mark Calcavecchia, Joe Ozaki and Michael Allen.

Defending champ Fred Funk shot 76.

Tseng, Hull in lead

SOUTHPORT, England — Yani Tseng shot a 4-under 68 in the opening round of the Women’s British Open at Royal Birkdale on Thursday, and is tied for the lead as she pursues her third major championship.

The rising star from Taiwan shot a bogey-free round that included a birdie and an eagle on the two finishing holes, putting her in a tie for the lead with Australian Katherine Hull.

Hull made an eagle on the 18th hole to join Tseng at 4 under.

Anne-Lise Caudal of France took the early lead with her round of 3-under 69, and she was matched later in the day by South Korea’s Kim Lang and Sun Young Yoo, along with Brittany Lincicome of the United States.

American Michelle Wie opened with a 2-under 70, as did In-Kyung Kim of South Korea.

Compton, Every tied

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — Double heart transplant recipient Erik Compton shot a 7-under 63 in the inaugural Greenbrier Classic to share the first-round lead with rookie Matt Every.

George McNeill, Pat Perez and Jeff Overton opened with 64s.

NOTE: Morgan Hoffmann of Wyckoff shot a 65 during the first round of play at the Nationwide-Cox Classic on Thursday.