Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay succeed in subduing challenging Pinehurst No. 2, while Scottie Scheffler's performance lags.
At the North Carolina event, rugged and quick conditions challenged the competitors, but Northern Ireland's McIlroy and American Cantlay handled the challenge, both recording scores of five-under 65 to match the tournament's lowest ever score at the venue and take a joint lead.
Northern Ireland's McIlroy, seeking to end his 10-year wait for his fifth major title, displayed great control, managing to avoid a single bogey in his round and finishing with an impressive birdie from nearly 20 feet away. The 35-year-old's performance has been promising, with his previous three bogey-free starts at majors resulting in victories - including at the 2011 US Open.
"Over the years, I've found that in major championships where I've done well or won, I've always had a good start. It's nice to begin with another one," McIlroy said. "The greens are a bit more sloped and have more movement, but there are options - you can chip or putt, and I hope we play more courses like this."
Cantlay, an eight-time PGA Tour winner, also played a flawless round, sinking six birdies and staying under 70 for the first time in his ninth US Open appearance as he chased that elusive first major. “I've been working really hard on my game, and usually, when you make just a few changes and you're working hard, it's just a matter of time," said Cantlay.
On the other hand, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, pursuing his second major and sixth victory of the season, found himself trailing with a one-over 71. Prone to errors, Scheffler only hit half of the fairways and struggled. Fellow major champion Xander Schauffele, along with defending champion Wyndham Clark, shared the next spot with 70; however, both players were unable to match McIlroy and Cantlay's performance.
Meanwhile, Sweden's Ludvig Aberg stands a stroke behind the leaders, cementing his place as one of the game's rising stars with a superb first-round 66; he hit every fairway and missed only two greens in his first-ever US Open round and third career major participation. Aberg highlighted his nervousness, stating, “I'm very happy, of course. I wouldn’t want to do it again. I'm always nervous when playing tournament golf. I think the day when I'm not nervous is not a good sign."
Further down the leaderboard, 2011 US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau and France's Matthieu Pavon share third place after scores of 67. Pavon created history by becoming the first player to record two eagles in a US Open round, hitting par-fives in five strokes each. "The US Open is a tough course, and even if you go in two for the par-fives, you need to put the ball in the right spot. I focused on that and also made some good putts," remarked Pavon.
Despite his issues with iron play, three-time US Open champion Tiger Woods shot a 74 after starting positively with one-under six holes. The 48-year-old, who received an exemption after failing to qualify for his first major this year, was average off the tee but found it challenging to maintain his excellent early putting, resulting in five bogeys. Woods acknowledged his poor iron play and missed short putts, but praised his driving, expressing his hope of recovering in the coming rounds. "I think I three-putted two or three times today. If I clean that up, and if I'm a little more relaxed with my iron shots, I'd be right there at even par," Woods stated.
In comparison, Norwegian Viktor Hovland, ranked No. 5, delivered a poor performance with an opening 78, while American major winners Justin Thomas and Phil Mickelson faltered with 77 and 79, respectively.
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After their impressive performances, Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay are focusing on maintaining their form in the following rounds of the golf tournament at Pinehurst No. 2. Meanwhile, despite struggling with accuracy, golf legend Tiger Woods is determined to improve his iron play and putt better in the upcoming rounds, hoping to climb up the leaderboard.
