OAKMONT, Pa. — “I like feeling uncomfortable.’’

Those words came from J.J. Spaun about an hour after he seized the early first-round lead in the U.S. Open at mighty Oakmont with a bogey-free, 4-under-par 66.

As it turns out, the 34-year-old from San Diego is in the right place if he embraces uncomfortable as he tries to conquer what the best players in the world say might be the most difficult golf course in the world.

“All you’ve been hearing is how hard this place is,’’ Spaun said. “It’s hard to not hear the noise and see what’s on social media. So, I was actually pretty nervous. But I actually tried to harness that, the nerves, the anxiety, because it kind of heightens my focus, makes me swing better.