Bob Donaldson, Post-Gazette Nick Dougherty blasts out of the sand on Hole 8 yesterday in U.S. Open play at Oakmont Country Club. Click photo for larger image. Multimedia: Excerpts from Nick Dougherty's press conference after his opening round at the U.S. Open Atop the Leader Board Click to view video report PG golf Writer Gerry Dulac wraps up Day One developments at Oakmont yesterday.

In the 107-year history of the U.S. Open, there have been only six start-to-finish leaders. The most recent was Tiger Woods in 2002. With young Brit Nick Dougherty holding the first-round lead at Oakmont Country Club, it's a pretty safe assumption the number of start-to-finish leaders will not swell to seven.

Dougherty, who took a one-stroke lead with a 68 yesterday, is the quintessential first-round leader -- unknown, unheralded and unaccomplished. Not only has he never won a major, he has never won a minor in this country.

But what a dandy story it would make if Dougherty stayed in the lead for just one more day, let alone three.

Dougherty, 25, is a guy with stories to tell and an engaging personality in which to tell them. Any professional golfer who walks into an interview room at historic and revered Oakmont and calls the course, "easy," well, that's a guy from whom you would like to hear more.

How can you not enjoy an athlete who refers to a fellow competitor as "a lovely fellow?" That's how Dougherty described Trip Kuehne, who played in his threesome.

For certain, he's no snooty Brit. Asked what he enjoyed most about the Open, he said, "I love the fun. You Americans are noisier than us, and I like that."

How many professional athletes have "delightful" as their favorite adjective?

That's also the best adjective to describe Dougherty. He's a delightful fellow.

Golf has more than its share of bright, appealing guys who can fill up notebooks and tape recorders. But if Dougherty became a regular in the interview room, he would stand among the elite talkers. He has it all -- from colorful comments, to a dark past, to a fabled mentor, to a game that significantly could get better.

After going 1-over par on the front nine yesterday, he charged home with three birdies to score his 68 and led Angel Cabrera by one stroke. Hovering at three stokes back with a 71 was Tiger Woods, still the tournament favorite.

Dougherty was the first man in the interview room, and he set a high standard for quotability. Asked for some general comments to open the session, he said, "Yeah, I think the course is -- I hate saying it -- easy."

It was unheard of. No one calls Oakmont "easy."

In fairness, Dougherty admitted the players who teed off early yesterday "had it as good as it could be this morning. Obviously, that thunderstorm [Wednesday], softened it up nicely."

In an nod to the Oakmont gods and the golfing establishment, Dougherty later called the course, "Barbaric."

Dougherty was an exceptional amateur and his skills earned him mentoring from Nick Faldo, regarded as England's greatest golfer.

"He gave me some private lessons, which you can imagine is like a dream come true. For a British golfer, Nick Faldo, he's Tiger Woods for us. I started playing quite well, won quite a lot of tournaments in succession and the relationship built. He took me out with him to meet Sam Snead. He's taken me on quite a few trips."

If Faldo had a message about dedication to the sport, it didn't immediately rub off on Dougherty, who admits to having been a party boy.

"Those days are long gone, to be honest," he said. "I like to think that people who know me for the last couple of years think of me as one of the most professional players they know. I prepare as well as anyone. I train. I do everything the right way.

"I strive for perfection, and back in the day that wasn't the case. I was a young man, and young men have fun. I don't regret it."

Dougherty has won once, in 2005, on the European Tour. His best showing this season was a tie for second in the New Zealand Open. He's playing in his third U.S. Open. In 2005, he shot a 15-over 295 to finish tied for 52nd. Last year, he failed to make the cut after rounds of 78 and 75.

He has played well this year, but not well enough. In fact, if you listen closely, Dougherty seems to view himself as somewhat of a choker.

"I think I'm playing real well for the moment. My golf is in great shape. But this year it has been disappointing in a lot of ways for me. I've led, I think, six tournaments of the 14 I've played at some state -- a few of them very near to the end. And I haven't finished one off, which has been extremely disappointing for me."

With yet another lead, he's hoping he has learned from past experience.

"I expected to play well this week. I expected to think about my round or think about my game and have the right attitude to it, which I've achieved today and hopefully will do for the rest of the week."

We can only hope so.