Patrick Cantlay and Rory McIlroy resisted the Pinehurst greens in this first round. With a card of 65 (-5) each, the two players in the world top 10 are in the lead at the end of this first day. World No. 9, Patrick Cantlay, is the first to occupy this position after recording 6 birdies and a bogey on the grounds of North Carolina.
“I got off to a good start, with a bunker shot at 11, the latter rejoiced. I played pretty solid most of the time. I think the course was quite difficult. But I played well. Lots of balls on the fairway. I left the ball in the right places, for the most part. I worked really hard on my game and usually when you make a few changes and you work really hard, it’s just a matter of time. I knew that by leaving at 7:40 in the morning, the course would perhaps be the easiest of the whole week, with the absence of wind. I’m really happy with my ride today (Thursday). »
Alongside him, world No. 3 Rory McIlroy joined him later at the head of the rankings. With no bogey conceded in this first round, the Northern Irishman was solid throughout the day, hitting 15 greens in regulation. The 35-year-old achieved a very good second place in California in 2023 and can hope to do better this year, having not won in a Major since 2014 when he won the USPGA and the British Open.
“I think I said earlier this week that my approach to the US Opens in recent years has been successful because of the mindset I brought, particularly last year at Los Angeles Country Club. The course is a little different than it was last year, but the strategy and mindset remains the same. My short game was good at first. I chipped at 5 and had a really good up-and-down at 6, another really good up-and-down at 8. But other than that, I think I hit every other green . It was a very controlled first round of golf,” analyzed the world No. 3.
Åberg nearby, Pavon amazes
Only one shot behind at -4, Ludvig Åberg is alone in third position. Already breathtaking during the Masters with a second place, the young Swede continues to impress for the third major contested in his career. Although the USPGA did not smile on him by not making the cut, the 24-year-old is in the running this week.
Behind him, a Frenchman is at -3, it is Matthieu Pavon. Despite declining results in recent weeks, the Bordeaux player secured his first day on the Pinehurst course by making two eagles. The French No. 1 is accompanied by the American Bryson DeChambeau in 4th place in the ranking.
In the top 10, we also find the American Tony Finau and the British Tyrrell Hatton in 6th position at -2 as well as the Belgian Thomas Detry and the Spaniard Sergio Garcia in 9th position at -1.
In par, in 16th position, we can count many players, including the Americans Collin Morikawa, Brooks Koepka and even Xander Schauffele, winner of the PGA Championship. As well as the Briton Tommy Fleetwood and the Scotsman Robert MacIntyre.
Scheffler and Woods above par
The greens at Pinehurst were not for everyone. This is the case for the world No. 1 with five victories this season. With a card of 71 (+1), Scottie Scheffler is in 34th position at the end of this first round alongside Max Homa, Brian Harman, Rickie Fowler, Tom Kim and Cameron Smith.
For his compatriot, Tiger Woods, things were not easy either. Despite a good start to the tournament with a birdie on the first hole, the Tiger experienced complications by conceding 6 bogeys for a birdie for a total of +4 at the end of the day.
