The Latest: Johnson gets a little help finding ball in rough

SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. (AP) — The Latest on the U.S. Open's first round Thursday (all times local):

3:40 p.m.

The rough is so thick at Shinnecock that players are having a hard time finding their golf ball even with help from volunteers.

Dustin Johnson had a search party of about 30 when his tee shot on No. 6 went too far to the left. Among those looking for his ball was Tiger Woods and part of the television crew. Not only was the ball found, Johnson got a little more help.

Former PGA champion Rich Beem, working for Sky Sports, found the ball by stepping on it.

If Johnson had stepped on the ball, it would have been a one-shot penalty. Because it was someone else, Johnson was able to retrieve it from dense grass and drop it without penalty.