The US Open has started at No. 2 Pinehurst in North Carolina, and we already have a close battle at the top of the rankings.
At the start of the week, it seemed like everyone was going to be chasing Scottie Scheffler – who’s on a heater not seen since Tiger Woods’ heyday. Scheffler, however, had a very average run. The world’s top-ranked golfer finished with a 1-over 71, putting him six shots ahead.
It was rather Patrick Cantlay who benefited from the first wave. He made three birdies on his final five holes of the day to get his 5-under 65. That briefly gave him a two-shot lead on the field when he entered the clubhouse. Cantlay needed just 23 putts in his round, which marked a career-low at a major. Ludvig Åberg finished at 4 under in his very first round at the US Open, putting him alone in third place.
It was Rory McIlroy who dominated the late heat on Thursday afternoon. McIlroy shot a bogey-free 65 to tie Cantlay for the lead, thanks to a huge birdie at the 18th to end his round.
McIlroy hasn’t won a major championship in a decade now, but he started the last six US Opens with a round in the red. He also finished second in Los Angeles last summer.
Bryson DeChambeau was also briefly right with McIlroy. He fell back to 3 under after a late bogey in the final stretch, putting him tied with Matthieu Pavon in fourth place. Tony Finau and Tyrrell Hatton are alone in sixth at 2 under. Brooks Koepka, who finished in a tie, left the course without speaking to the media on Thursday – and his explanation was incredible.
Woods, on the other hand, struggled. After a birdie to open his day, he made five birdies in seven holes around the turn before finishing with a 4-over 74. He will need a big outing on Friday to qualify, which he does not have managed to do this last month. at the PGA Championship.
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Ranking update after the first round
Here’s a look at the standings after the first round at Pinehurst No. 2:
Ranking update
T1. Patrick Cantlay (-5)
T1. Rory McIlroy
3. Ludvig Aberg (-4)
T4. Matthieu Pavon (-3)
T4. Bryson DeChambeau
T6. Tyrrell Hatton (-2)
T6. Tony Finau
Other notables
T17. Brooks Koepka (E)
T17.Collin Morikawa
T17. Neal Shipley
T17. Xander Schauffele
T39. Scottie Scheffler (+1)
T69. Wyndham Clark (+3)
T92. Tiger Woods (+4)
T92. Dustin Johnson
T133. Justin Thomas (+7)
T149. Phil Mickelson (+9)
Bryson completes T4
Despite the late bogey, Bryson DeChambeau is once again right in the mix. He finished with a 3-under 67, which allows him to return to two points and tied for fourth place with Matthieu Pavon.
Brooks Koepka’s media criticism
Brooks Koepka left Pinehurst on Thursday without speaking to the media – other than texting with Eamon Lynch. This exchange was of course incredible.
Since Koepka thinks the media needs to be more creative, here are some of the hypothetical semi-golf questions Jay Busbee asks him:
Do you think the first Brooks can take on the first Tiger?
You must play a round while drinking one beer per hole. How many holes do you make and what do you shoot?
You’re going to rob a bank. Who are the three players you have in your team?
Click the photo to read more about Brooks Koepka’s text exchange after the first round of the US Open. (AP/George Walker IV)
Come in, Rory
Rory did not hesitate on the 18th green. What a final putt.
Rory McIlroy’s bogey-free start
Here’s a closer look at Rory McIlroy’s bogey-free start to the US Open:
Rory McIlroy tied for lead
Rory McIlroy walks in a huge birdie at 18! He will shoot a bogey-free 65 to start the US Open, which will put him tied with Patrick Cantlay for the lead.
This is his sixth consecutive US Open with a first round under par.
Bryson drops to 3 under
Bryson’s bogey-free streak came to an end. He just made a bogey at the seventh and fell to 3 under for the day. He is now two points off the lead with two holes to play.
Rory joins Bryson at 4 under
Rory McIlroy isn’t going away either. He has just landed his fourth birdie of the day at the 16th to join DeChambeau and Åberg at 4 under.
Either one can reach Patrick Cantlay before we finish here.
Bryson DeChambeau is just one move ahead
Bryson DeChambeau is not slowing down. He has just made his fourth birdie of the day – even after a difficult shot off the tee – at the 5th to move into second position with Ludvig Åberg.
He is now one point behind the leader with four holes to play.
Scheffler’s struggles and yet…
Scottie Scheffler is 1-over, still very much in contention. I feel like he should be 10 years old.
Here are some statistics:
– Fairways hit: 5/12 (146th)
– Putts: 24 at 12 holes (98th)
– Greens in regulation: 9 out of 14 (36th)
We could go into strokes gained stats, but you get the point.
He hits the ball everywhere, doesn’t make a single putt… and yet he is only 1 over par, just six points behind the clubhouse leader, Patrick Cantlay.
This looks a lot like a team that goes 3 of 20 from 3-point land and still wins.
Hideki from the beach
Hideki Matsuyama with an absolutely perfect chip to achieve his third birdie of the day.
Brooks Koepka’s hilarious “text” interview
Brooks Koepka did not want to speak to reporters after his even start at the US Open. So Golfweek’s Eamon Lynch texted him.
The results were hilarious.
“Thank you dad.” 🤣
Click the photo to read Brooks Koepka’s text interview with Golfweek’s Eamon Lynch. (David Cannon/Getty Images)
JT Poston’s brutal double bogey
JT Poston came out of the bunker at third, which was solid. But that only happened after he went from bunker to bunker back to the original bunker.
This earned him a double bogey and brought him to 3 over on the day. Not great.
Bryson joins Rory at 3 under
Bryson DeChambeau, who also runs a bogey-free card, keeps pace with Rory McIlroy perfectly. He has just landed his third birdie of the day to reach 3 under.
Adam Scott throws darts
Adam Scott sneaked into the US Open this week for what was his 92nd consecutive appearance at a major championship.
This is the easy version of Pinehurst No. 2
It’s going to get even more difficult this weekend…
During the 3 previous US Opens held at Pinehurst, the difficulty was increased on weekends.
Percentage of rounds in the 60s – Round 1 – 10.0% Round 2 – 8.2% Rounds 3 and 4 – 5.0%
Rory McIlroy’s bogey-free round continues. He just birdied the par-5 10th, bringing him to 3 under that day and into T3.
This is Bryson
Bryson DeChambeau has just intervened at the 18th to achieve perhaps the most improbable birdie of the day. He’s now 2 under as he makes the turn and suddenly finds himself in the mix.
A place at the Olympic Games at stake
The Spaniard David Puig exceeded 6 today during his first round. He will need a good day tomorrow to make a success of the weekend and keep his Parisian hopes alive.
Difficult circumstances for David Puig: make the selection for a chance at the Olympics. Miss it and the spot goes to Campillo. He opens with a 76.
