Jason Day has given himself the green light to go on a birdie blitz on day two of the US Open after his second-worst score at the majors.
Australian world No.3 Day carded a disastrous seven-over-par 79 during Thursday's first round at debut US Open host Erin Hills in Wisconsin.
Near the very bottom of the leaderboard, Day sits a whopping 14 shots back of leader Rickie Fowler.
World No.9 Fowler fired a blistering seven-under 65, finishing with a one-shot lead over American Xander Schauffele and England's Paul Casey (both 66).
Only a birdie at the last hole prevented the 29-year-old Day from equalling his worst score in golf's four big dances - a second-round 80 at the 2012 US PGA Championship.
With two runner-up finishes among five top-10s in six starts at the US Open, Day believes an aggressive mindset for Friday's second round will be key to avoiding his first missed cut at the championship.
"I have to be a little bit more aggressive and try shoot a low score," Day said.
"I need a lot of drivers down the middle of the fairway and a lot of birdies to get myself back in the tournament.
"There's nothing I can hide behind; I just have to go out there and get it done."
Day believes officials could brutalise the course set-up for round two after Fowler equalled the lowest opening score relative to par in US Open history, joining Jack Nicklaus and Tom Weiskopf, who both shot seven-under 63s at Baltusrol in 1980.
"I just need get myself inside the cut line, because I'm assuming the USGA don't like to see seven under lead their championship (after round one)," Day said.
"If I can get through to the weekend, I can slowly edge my way back in; you really don't have to do too much on the weekend of a US Open to move up the leaderboard."
But Day wasn't the only Australian to have a tough time on the longest course in major championship history, with South Australia's Wade Ormsby beginning his debut major championship with a 75.
European Tour player Ormsby joined compatriot Nick Flanagan at three-over and tied for 102nd place.
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