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Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay emerged unscathed when Pinehurst’s famous No. 2 field sank its teeth into the first-round field at 124. US Open Thursday.
Brutally firm and fast conditions sent the scorecards skyrocketing in North Carolina, but Northern Ireland’s McIlroy and American Cantlay tamed the beast, each shooting five-under 65s to match the lowest score ever achieved by the tournament at that venue and take an early share of the lead.
Looking to end a 10-year wait for his fifth major crown, World No. 3 McIlroy was a picture of control, avoiding a single bogey before closing with a superb birdie putt from nearly 20 feet.
The omens seemed good for the 35-year-old. When Germany’s Martin Kaymer opened with the same score in 2014, he repeated the feat the next day before claiming victory. The last three times McIlroy had a bogey-free start at a major, he lifted the trophy, including at the 2011 US Open.
“Certainly in the major championships that I’ve won or played well in, I’ve always had a good start, and it’s good to get another start,” McIlroy told reporters.
“The greens are a little steeper and there’s a little more movement on them. But there are options. You can chip it. You can put it. I would love for us to play more golf courses like this,” he added.
Head to head is eight-time PGA Tour winner Cantlay, who made six birdies to shoot under 70 for the first time in nine US Open appearances and make the perfect start in his latest quest for a long-awaited first major.
“I’ve been working very hard on my game and usually when you make just a couple of changes and work very hard, it’s just a matter of time,” Cantlay, the world No. 9, told reporters.
By contrast, World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is already chasing his second major (and sixth victory) in just his ninth start of the season, but the tournament’s overwhelming favorite was left with ground to make up after opening with 71, one over.
He current Masters champion He was unusually error-prone, hitting just six of 14 fairways.
Playmate and The winner of last month’s PGA Championship, Xander Schauffele was a little better with an initial 70, while defending champion Wyndham Clark shot 73.
Swede Ludvig Aberg leads the chasing pack one stroke behind the leading duo, and the 24-year-old continues to cement his reputation as one of the game’s brightest young stars with an opening 66.
Aberg hit every fairway and missed just two greens in his first round of the US Open and only the third major start of his career, having finished second in his Masters debut in April.
“I’m very, very happy, obviously. I wouldn’t want to do it again,” she told reporters.
“I’m always nervous when I play golf tournaments. I think that’s how it’s supposed to be. I think the day when I’m not nervous is not a good sign. “There are obviously a lot of butterflies this morning.”
Aberg is one shot ahead of 2020 champion Bryson DeChambeau and Frenchman Matthieu Pavon, who became the first player in history to make two eagles in a US Open round at Pinehurst No.2 after navigating the 5th and 10 par fives in just six total. strokes.
“We know how difficult the course can be and even if you go in two for the par fives, you really have to put the ball in the right place,” Pavón told reporters after shooting 67.
“This is everything I tried and achieved. I also made some really good putts today, so it was really a good day.”
Three-time US Open champion tiger forest had a promising start in his 23rdthird appearance in the tournament, but saw his stellar opening shot abandon him to fall to four over 74.
playing under a special exemption After failing to automatically qualify for a major for the first time in his professional career, the 48-year-old was one under par after six holes and was excellent off the tee throughout, but was let down by his iron play and lost its initial touch. on the greens when five bogeys ruined his initial momentum.
“I think I three-putted two or three times today,” Woods told reporters. “If I clean that up, if I get a couple iron shots that aren’t as weak as the ones I hit, I’ll be right there.
“I thought I did the only thing I needed to do today, which is drive the ball well… I just didn’t take advantage of any of that.”
Woods fared relatively well compared to three of his big-name counterparts. Norway’s world number 5 Victor Hovland fell to an opening 78, while American duo Justin Thomas and Phil Mickelson, winners of multiple majors, endured similarly nightmarish starts of 77 and 79 respectively.
Friday’s second round begins at 6:45am EDT (11:45am BST), and only those in the top 60 and ties at the end of the game will advance to the weekend.