The 124th U.S. Open teed off Thursday morning, and on a troublesome course like Pinehurst No. 2, it is cheap to anticipate opponents to boost their video games. We’ve got all the greatest motion from the primary spherical of the 2024 contest in North Carolina proper right here.
Powerful begin for Lefty
It was a primary spherical to neglect for LIV Golf League captain Phil Mickelson on Thursday on the Pinehurst No. 2. A six-time U.S. Open runner-up, Mickelson carded a 9-over 79, which was tied for second worst amongst golfers within the early wave. Mickelson made 9 bogeys — together with on every of the primary 4 holes — with out a birdie. He hit solely six of 14 fairways off the tee and three of 18 greens. “Lefty” is now 29 over in his previous 11 rounds at Pinehurst No. 2. The silver lining for Mickelson: Plainly he’ll in all probability be house for his 54th birthday on Sunday. — Mark Schlabach
Rory’s acquired the contact
After sending his drive into the native areas on the par-5 fifth gap and failing to put up into the green, Rory McIlroy’s strategy shot landed on the inexperienced and rolled off. No downside. The four-time main winner’s chip had the proper contact and dropped into the opening for his second birdie of the day, placing him 2 below by way of 5 holes.
Rory makes birdie the arduous means on the best gap on the course! pic.twitter.com/f5IihnAlrX
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 13, 2024
Cantlay flirts with historical past
For a golfer that has been thought of one of the gifted on the planet the previous few seasons, Patrick Cantlay’s file in main championships hasn’t been stellar. The eight-time PGA Tour winner has 14 top-25 finishes in 29 begins however completed within the high 5 solely as soon as — a tie for third within the 2019 PGA Championship. On Thursday, Cantlay was the early clubhouse chief with a 5 below 65, because of correct iron play and a deft brief sport. In line with knowledge from ESPN Stats & Info, Cantlay has by no means been inside the highest 5 on the finish of a gap spherical of a serious. He has additionally by no means led or co-led in any main spherical. — Mark Schlabach
THISCLOSE to the bottom spherical in U.S. Open historical past at Pinehurst. 😮
Nonetheless, a scorching 65 for @patrick_cantlay. pic.twitter.com/hptat2zbVu
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 13, 2024
Aberg makes a run
At this level, we in all probability should not be stunned by something Sweden’s Ludvig Åberg does on the golf course. After ending second in his first Masters look in April, Aberg carded a 4 below 66 on Thursday, his debut spherical in a U.S. Open. He is 1 stroke behind chief Patrick Cantlay. Aberg is the seventh participant in U.S. Open historical past to put up a 66 or higher in his first spherical within the U.S. Open; Matthew Wolff was the newest with a 4 below 66 at Winged Foot in 2020. — Mark Schlabach
Maybe the best birdie Ludvig Åberg 🇸🇪 will make all week.
He is tied for the lead in his U.S. Open debut. pic.twitter.com/Lzpgm2Jz25
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 13, 2024
Rahm watching from house
Jon Rahm could also be out of the U.S. Open with a foot an infection, however he is nonetheless retaining tabs on his colleagues.
Posted up and able to benefit from the present. @usopengolf pic.twitter.com/nt1a9Rd7CF
— Jon Rahm Rodriguez (@JonRahmOfficial) June 13, 2024
Shipley making waves
Keep in mind Neal Shipley, the low beginner on the Masters in April? The Ohio State golfer is again on the leaderboard at a serious at 2 below after 12 holes. The “Ship” drained an 18½-footer for birdie on No. 1 and a 33½-footer on the par-4 twelfth to maneuver right into a tie for fourth. It is a good factor Woods is not enjoying him once more right now; Shipley, runner-up within the 2023 U.S. Novice, beat Tiger by 4 photographs in a Sunday pairing at Augusta Nationwide. — Mark Schlabach
O-H!
One other lengthy birdie from @OhioStateMGOLF‘s Neal Shipley in his closing occasion as an beginner. pic.twitter.com/GeepB8yLlJ
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 13, 2024
Tiger bounces again
Tiger picked up a birdie on the par-5 fifth to finish an unpleasant stretch of 5 over within the earlier seven holes. He ripped a 316-yard drive down the appropriate aspect, then his second shot bounced onto the inexperienced earlier than rolling again off. He chipped to about 30 ft and missed the eagle putt. Woods had birdies on each par-5s and wanted the second to get again to three over with 4 holes to play. — Mark Schlabach
Tiger will get one again.
He has birdied each par 5s right now. pic.twitter.com/lYCyHXzOuM
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 13, 2024
Pavon is cruising
For all of the discuss of Pinehurst’s problem this week, it does not appear as if Matthieu Pavon is having a lot of an issue. The Frenchman made the flip in 2 below, with one eagle already below his belt, and proceeded so as to add a second one on the par-5 tenth gap with a 27-foot putt after reaching the inexperienced. It is early, however Pavon’s 5 below will now set the tempo for the remainder of the event. — Paolo Uggetti
Pavon carded eagles on each par-5s at Pinehurst No. 2 within the first spherical Thursday to grow to be the primary participant to get to five below. In line with Elias Sports activities Bureau, he is the primary golfer to put up two eagles in the identical U.S. Open spherical at Pinehurst No. 2. He is the third participant to do it within the U.S. Open at any course up to now 10 years; Jimmy Walker (second spherical, Shinnecock Hills in 2018) and Tommy Fleetwood (closing spherical, Los Angeles Nation Membership in 2023) have been the others. –Mark Schlabach
Magnifique! 🇫🇷
Solo chief @matthieupavon together with his *second* eagle of the morning. pic.twitter.com/4hFyWbFfKh
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 13, 2024
Brooks within the lead
Cease me when you’ve heard this earlier than: On a tough main championship golf course, Brooks Koepka is main the event. The four-time main winner acquired off to an early lead on the U.S. Open by enjoying the entrance 9 in 2 below and making a birdie on the tenth gap to go to three below on the day. Koepka appears to thrive in these form of setups, and this week must be no completely different. — Paolo Uggetti
A really acquainted face on the high of the U.S. Open chief board.
Brooks Koepka -3. pic.twitter.com/zn4p3lMB0M
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 13, 2024
Tiger begins off robust
Fifteen-time main champion Tiger Woods is off to an awesome begin Thursday. He started on the second 9 and sank a 12-foot birdie putt on the par-5 tenth. On the par-4 twelfth, Woods did not like his second shot and almost broke an iron over his knee. His ball ended up in a greenside bunker. He chipped to 10 ft and made the lengthy par save to stay at 1 below. Woods’ brief sport appeared rusty on the Masters and PGA Championship, however thus far so good at Pinehurst No. 2. — Mark Schlabach
Thursday roars.@TigerWoods is main the 124th U.S. Open. pic.twitter.com/ZDhfhK6dJh
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 13, 2024