The dream of the Adam Scott grand slam is alive after the Masters champion moved within one shot of the lead in a rain-interrupted opening round of the US Open.

Scott claimed four birdies and just a lone bogey in his 11 holes played to be three-under par, one shot adrift of leader Luke Donald, who was four-under through 13 when play was called for darkness.

Earlier two separate rain delays caused four and a quarter hours of lost time.

American Phil Mickelson, a five-time runner up of his national open, claimed the clubhouse lead with a 67 and sits tied with Scott at three-under.

Australians Alistair Presnell and Mat Goggin share fourth at two under through six holes, along with defending champion Webb Simpson (eight holes).

Former world No.1 Donald birdied two of his opening three holes, made bogey on the fifth but stormed into the front with three consecutive birdies on 11, 12 and 13 right before play was called.

“I’m excited to get off to a great start. I feel like I’m in pretty good control of my game,” Donald said.

“I’ve only played two thirds of a round, but certainly, yeah. That’s where you want to be.”

Scott made back-to-back birdies on the third and fourth holes but dropped a shot after having to hit out of a hazard on the fifth.

But birdies on the eighth and then the 11th, his final hole of the day, moved him into second.

Mickelson’s 67 came despite only arriving in the state in the early hours of the morning and having to sit through a three-and-a-half-hour rain delay.

He had been in his hometown of San Diego to attend his daughter’s eighth grade graduation and flew back into Philadelphia on Wednesday night.

Jason Day (70) and John Senden (11 holes) sit at even par, currently tied 16th while the rest of the Australian tilt sits above par.

Marc Leishman (11 holes) and Geoff Ogilvy (13 holes) are two over, the same score as world No.1 Tiger Woods (10 holes).

Aaron Baddeley struggled to a five-over 75 and Marcus Fraser was six-over through 11 holes.