15 June 23:06
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 15, 2024Bryson gets one back on the par-5 5th.
Now two back of Pavon. pic.twitter.com/CQW0iZfzCn
15 June 22:58
Solo leader! ????@matthieupavon sits alone at the top. pic.twitter.com/EJA9O98EjD
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 15, 2024
15 June 22:22
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 15, 2024Didn't lose his head on that one!
It's an eagle ?? for @TyrrellHatton on 5.
Now -4 and just one back. pic.twitter.com/CvXgPI7Bgi
15 June 21:53
Aberg chases US Open debut win while Scheffler struggles
Ludvig Aberg, trying tobecome the first US Open debut winner since 1913, teed off with a one-strokelead in Saturday's third round at Pinehurst, where top-ranked Scottie Schefflerwas 11 strokes adrift.
Sweden's sixth-rankedAberg stood on five-under 135 after 36 holes when he began alongside 2020 USOpen winner Bryson DeChambeau.
After a runner-up effortin last month's PGA Championship, DeChambeau was among eight of 12 startersfrom Saudi-backed LIV Golf who made the cut for the weekend.
Also one stroke off thepace with DeChambeau on four-under were ninth-ranked American Patrick Cantlayand Belgium's Thomas Detry.
And France's MatthieuPavon joined them with a six-foot birdie putt at the first hole.Four-time major winnerRory McIlroy of Northern Ireland was another shot back on three-under withAmerican Tony Finau.
Only 12 players wereunder par for the tournament as the perils of Pinehurst took a toll, with itsdome-shaped elevated greens and dirt and weeds waste areas.
Scheffler, the hottestgolfer entering the week and a huge favourite, fired a one-over 71 to stand onsix-over 216 through 54 holes.
"Another frustratingday," Scheffler said. "I thought I played a lot better than my score.I'm having a lot of trouble reading these greens."
After a bogey at thepar-4 fourth, finding native area left off the tee, Scheffler sank a 17-footbirdie putt at the eighth.
He missed a three-footerfor par to bogey the par-3 ninth but bounced back with a birdie putt from justinside nine feet at 11.
Scheffler, who made thecut on the number at five-over 145, missed a nine-foot par putt to bogey thepar-3 15th and parred in from there.
"Definitely trickypin positions," Scheffler said. "With the way these runoffs are, it'sgoing to be pretty challenging this afternoon."
Scheffler was the firstplayer since Tom Watson in 1980 to win five PGA Tour events before the USOpen, taking the fifth last week at the Memorial, and has 12 top-10 finishes in13 events this season.
The usually stoic andcalm Scheffler, however, could feel the frustration at Pinehurst's uniquechallenge, flipping his putter in the air and letting it fall after one nearmiss on Friday and also slamming down his driver after a woefully errant tee shot.
"Golf is a mentaltorture chamber at times, especially the US Open," said Scheffler, whor*fused to call the course borderline unfair.
"When it comes tothe US Open, 'borderline' is such like a trigger word," he said.
The US Open winner takes$4.3 million and the runner-up a hefty $2.32 million from a record $21.5million purse.
But Aberg, runner-up atApril's Masters in his major debut, could carry off a bit of history as well.
Not since 20-year-oldAmerican amateur Francis Ouimet upset Britain's Harry Vardon and Ted Ray at TheCountry Club in his hometown of Brookline, Massachusetts, some 111 years agohas a player won the US Open in his debut.Aberg is the first debutplayer since Taiwan's Chen Tze-chung in 1985 to lead the US Open after 36holes.
Deadly accuracy
The 24-year-old Swede hastriumphs on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour since turning professional a yearago.
A major reason for hislead at punishing Pinehurst is that Aberg leads all players in both drivingaccuracy at 93% and greens in regulation at 83%, mainly avoiding the course'stwo major danger zones.
The best any Swedishplayer has done in a US Open is fourth by Niclas Fasth, Robert Karlson andHenrik Stenson.
Cantlay, in his best spotafter 36 holes in 30 major starts, has a chance to move past Collin Morikawafor the final spot on the US team for the Paris Olympics but needs no worsethan a two-way share of second to do it.
Morikawa fired a 66 onSaturday to stand on level par 210, closing his round with a 25-foot birdieputt and showing contenders low rounds are on offer.
- AFP
15 June 21:42
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 15, 2024Most players are hitting irons off the 1st tee.
Ludvig Åberg ???? is not most players!
Right down Broadway with a fairway metal. pic.twitter.com/eB3s53GUvt
15 June 20:44
SLAM DUNK! ??@JT_ThePostman delivers a classic no-bounce hole out on 16. pic.twitter.com/XYtd2U5sOr
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 15, 2024
15 June 19:28
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 15, 2024Cross-country, with some pace!
Collin Morikawa nails a birdie putt on No. 11 and is -2 on the day. pic.twitter.com/zObVkeZ5GW
15 June 16:40
Bonus birdie for Brooks! ??@BKoepka making an early charge on moving day. pic.twitter.com/rgqymEKQcq
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 15, 2024
15 June 16:01
He doesn't just make aces! ??@F_Molinari with a delightful little pitch to set up an early birdie. pic.twitter.com/a2pr3KKTed
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 15, 2024
15 June 15:46
Welcome to the weekend ?? pic.twitter.com/qRbZcj02X5
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 15, 2024
15 June 14:44
Hole locations for Round 3 at @PinehurstResort ?? pic.twitter.com/PsCpwfhfRX
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 15, 2024
15 June 14:30
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 15, 2024Ludvig Åberg leads by one heading into the weekend. ??
Full standings ??
A reminder of the leaderboard as day 3 gets underway.
15 June 07:14
Scores after Friday's second round of the 124th US Open at par-70 Pinehurst (a- denotes amateur):
135 - Ludvig Aberg (SWE) 66-69
136 - Thomas Detry (BEL) 69-67, Patrick Cantlay (USA) 65-71, Bryson DeChambeau (USA) 67-69
137 - Tony Finau (USA) 68-69, Matthieu Pavon (FRA) 67-70, Rory McIlroy (NIR) 65-72
138 - Hideki Matsuyama (JPN) 72-66
139 - Kim Joo-hyung Kim (KOR) 71-68, Tim Widing (SWE) 71-68, Corey Conners (CAN) 69-70, Tyrrell Hatton (ENG) 68-71, Zac Blair (USA) 70-69, Xander Schauffele (USA) 70-69, Akshay Bhatia (USA) 68-71
140 - Billy Horschel (USA) 73-67, Russell Henley (USA) 70-70, Sam Burns (USA) 73-67, Stephan Jger (GER) 70-70, Sergio Garcia (ESP) 69-71
141 - Nicolai Hoejgaard (DEN) 72-69, Taylor Pendrith (CAN) 71-70, Nicols Echavarra (COL) 72-69, Kim Seong-hyeon (KOR) 69-72, Frankie Capan (USA) 71-70, Sam Bennett (USA) 69-72
142 - Brian Harman (USA) 71-71, Chris Kirk (USA) 71-71, Denny McCarthy (USA) 75-67, Isaiah Salinda (USA) 70-72, Davis Thompson (USA) 70-72, Jackson Suber (USA) 69-73, Emiliano Grillo (ARG) 70-72, Sepp Straka (AUT) 70-72, Adam Scott (AUS) 70-72, Min Woo Lee (AUS) 73-69
143 - Cameron Smith (AUS) 71-72, Adam Svensson (CAN) 73-70, Martin Kaymer (GER) 70-73, Kim Si-woo (KOR) 71-72, Christiaan Bezuidenhout (RSA) 72-71, Aaron Rai (ENG) 69-74, Matt Kuchar (USA) 72-71, Jordan Spieth (USA) 72-71, Harris English (USA) 70-73, Mark Hubbard (USA) 74-69, Daniel Berger (USA) 73-70, Brian Campbell (USA) 73-70, a-Neal Shipley (USA) 70-73, a-Gunnar Broin (USA) 75-68
144 - Keegan Bradley (USA) 74-70, Collin Morikawa (USA) 70-74, JT Poston (USA) 73-71, Wyndham Clark (USA) 73-71, Austin Eckroat (USA) 72-72, David Puig (ESP) 76-68
145 - Francesco Molinari (ITA) 73-72, Dean Burmester (RSA) 74-71, Ryan Fox (NZL) 73-72, Shane Lowry (IRL) 74-71, Tommy Fleetwood (ENG) 70-75, Matthew Fitzpatrick (ENG) 73-72, Tom McKibbin (NIR) 74-71, Brendon Todd (USA) 74-71, Brooks Koepka (USA) 70-75, Ben Kohles (USA) 77-68, Max Greyserman (USA) 71-74, Justin Lower (USA) 72-73, Scottie Scheffler (USA) 71-74, Sahith Theegala (USA) 77-68, Greyson Sigg (USA) 76-69, Brandon Wu (USA) 74-71, Cameron Young (USA) 73-72, a-Luke Clanton (USA) 76-69
Missed the Cut
146 - Max Homa (USA) 71-75, Eric Cole (USA) 73-73, Nick Dunlap (USA) 73-73, a-Benjamin James (USA) 75-71, a-Jackson Buchanan (USA) 76-70, a-Bryan Kim (USA) 72-74, Robert MacIntyre (SCO) 70-76, Justin Rose (ENG) 73-73, Brandon Robinson-Thompson (ENG) 72-74, Viktor Hovland (NOR) 78-68, Taisei Shimizu (JPN) 71-75, Frederik Kjettrup (DEN) 72-74, Jason Scrivener (AUS) 74-72
147 - Adam Hadwin (CAN) 74-73, Seamus Power (IRL) 71-76, a-Omar Morales (MEX) 73-74, Rico Hoey (PHI) 77-70, Tiger Woods (USA) 74-73, Peter Malnati (USA) 74-73, Kurt Kitayama (USA) 73-74, a-Parker Bell (USA) 77-70
148 - Webb Simpson (USA) 75-73, Rickie Fowler (USA) 71-77, Tom Hoge (USA) 75-73, Chesson Hadley (USA) 75-73, Will Zalatoris (USA) 75-73, Taylor Moore (USA) 76-72, Richard Mansell (ENG) 78-70, Erik Van Rooyen (RSA) 76-72, Alexander Norn (SWE) 73-75, Ryo Ishikawa (JPN) 76-72, Eugenio Lpez-Chacarra (ESP) 75-73, Nick Taylor (CAN) 74-74, Jason Day (AUS) 71-77
149 - Cameron Davis (AUS) 77-72, Victor Perez (FRA) 75-74, Kang Sung-hoon (KOR) 74-75, Robert Rock (ENG) 70-79, a-Hiroshi Tai (SGA) 75-74, Dustin Johnson (USA) 74-75, Mac Meissner (USA) 72-77, Logan McAllister (USA) 70-79, Joey Vrzich (USA) 76-73, Christopher Petefish (USA) 77-72, Edoardo Molinari (ITA) 72-77
150 - Gary Woodland (USA) 72-78, Beau Hossler (USA) 74-76, Im Sung-jae (KOR) 74-76, Takumi Kanaya (JPN) 76-74, a-Ashton McCulloch (CAN) 75-75
151 - Casey Jarvis (RSA) 73-78, Sam Bairstow (ENG) 84-67, Andrew Svoboda (USA) 75-76, Justin Thomas (USA) 77-74, Carter Jenkins (USA) 73-78, Adam Schenk (USA) 79-72, Harry Higgs (USA) 76-75, Willie Mack III (USA) 71-80, a-Gordon Sargent (USA) 73-78, a-Brendan Valdes (USA) 76-75, Michael McGowan (USA) 77-74, a-Wells Williams (USA) 75-76
152 - Jake Knapp (USA) 75-77, Adrian Meronk (POL) 76-76, An Byeong-hun (KOR) 74-78
153 - a-Santiago De La Fuente (MEX) 78-75, Grant Forrest (SCO) 77-76, Lucas Glover (USA) 74-79, Jim Herman (USA) 74-79, John Chin (USA) 75-78
154 - a-Stewart Hagestad (USA) 79-75, Maxwell Moldovan (USA) 80-74, Mackenzie Hughes (CAN) 72-82, Matteo Manassero (ITA) 79-75
155 - Phil Mickelson (USA) 79-76, Chris Naegel (USA) 81-74, Carson Schaake (USA) 79-76
157 - a-Colin Prater (USA) 79-78
159 - Otto Black (USA) 79-80, Rikuya Hoshino (JPN) 78-81, Riki Kawamoto (JPN) 77-82
160 - Charles Reiter (USA) 80-80
15 June 06:42
Aberg grinds to one-stroke US Open lead as Scheffler struggles
Sweden's Ludwig Aberg grinded his way to a one-stroke lead after Friday's second round of the US Open while top-ranked Scottie Scheffler and other favorites struggled at punishing Pinehurst.
Sixth-ranked Aberg, a runner-up at April's Masters in his major debut, fired a one-under-par 69 to finish 36 holes on five-under 135.
"I hit it very nicely," Aberg said. "It was obviously very challenging, and it's not an easy golf course to play. But I felt like we stayed very disciplined, stayed very patient, and tried to hit it to our targets."
He had been sharing the lead with France's Matthieu Pavon, but the back-nine starter closed his round with bogeys at eight and the par-3 ninth to shoot 70 and share fifth.
"Super fortunate with the way that things have turned out over the last couple days, and hopefully we'll be able to keep it up," Aberg said.
One adrift in second were 2020 US Open winner Bryson DeChambeau, fellow American Patrick Cantlay and Belgium's Thomas Detry.
Four-time major winner Rory McIlroy, seeking his first major triumph in 10 years, shot 72 to share fifth with American Tony Finau and 24th-ranked Pavon on 137 and Japan's Hideki Matsuyama, the 2021 Masters champion, was eighth on 138 after a bogey-free 66.
Pre-tournament favorite Scheffler made the cut on the number at five-over 145 after shooting 74 in the first birdie-less major round of his career.
The two-time Masters champion was undone by bogeys at the par-3 15th and 17th and a double bogey at the par-5 fifth.
"It was definitely a grind," said Scheffler.
"I'm proud of how I fought. I gave myself a good chance. Today I just couldn't get the putts to fall.
"This golf course can be unpredictable at times, and maybe it got the better of me the last couple days."
Aberg, 24, sank a 30-foot birdie putt at the second hole and an 11-footer to birdie the par-5 fifth to grab the lead.
He answered a bogey at eight with a birdie at 12 but found a greenside bunker at 16 for another bogey only to have Pavon stumble late.
Pavon won in January at Torrey Pines to become the first Frenchman since 1907 to win a US PGA Tour event. He said his winning would boost French golf.
"It would mean everything. It would be huge," Pavon said.
"Having someone capable to lift the trophy like that would be pretty big for me and my country."
DeChambeau made five birdies and four bogeys with a tap-in birdie at 18 keeping him solidly in the hunt.
"Was very happy with how I stayed patient, gave myself good opportunities when they mattered, and I made a lot of clutch putts coming in," DeChambeau said.
Detry, ranked 55th, matched his PGA Tour best finish with a runner-up effort in March's Houston Open.
The 31-year-old Belgian had his best major finish last month with a share of fourth at the PGA Championship.
"My confidence is good. My play is good. I feel mentally stable as well," Detry said.
"I think it's going to be a fun challenge."
Cantlay shared the 18-hole lead with McIlroy after a 65.
"Was a lot firmer than yesterday," Cantlay said. "It's going to be a challenge the rest of the weekend."
Tiger misses cut
McIlroy closed with a bogey at the ninth. He also had bogeys at 11 and the par-3 15th against a lone birdie at the third.
"Had to have your wits about you," McIlroy said.
"I wish I had converted a couple more of the chances. Still overall in a great position going into the weekend.
"The four-time major winner from Northern Ireland played alongside Scheffler and second-ranked Xander Schauffele, who won last month's PGA Championship.
Schauffele was four off the lead after shooting 69 to stand on 139.
Matsuyama hopes to sustain his momentum.
"I was playing really great," he said through a translator.
"My short game was on point. That really helped. Hopefully I can keep that momentum through the weekend."
Tiger Woods, a 15-time major winner, missed the cut on 147 after a 73 on Friday.
"Probably the highest score I could have shot today," Woods said.
"Frustrating I'm not here for the weekend."
Others missing the cut included fifth-ranked Viktor Hovland and 10th-ranked Max Homa.
- AFP
14 June 23:01
Sweden's Aberg grabs US Open lead as rivals falter
Sweden's Ludvig Aberg, making only his third major start, seized a one-stroke lead in Friday's second round of the US Open as rivals including world number one Scottie Scheffler stumbled at formidable Pinehurst.
World number six Aberg, a runner-up in April's Masters in his major debut, stood on five-under par after 10 holes. He fired a four-under 66 on Thursday.
Aberg, 24, sank a 30-foot birdie putt at the par-4 second hole and an 11-footer for birdie at the par-5 fifth to grab the lead alone at 6-under, but found dirt and weeds left off the eighth tee and made bogey.
A pack on four-under included Belgium's Thomas Detry, who shot 67 to reach the clubhouse on 136 with Bryson DeChambeau, the 2020 US Open winner and runner-up in last month's PGA Championship who fired a 69.
At four-under still on the course were ninth-ranked Patrick Cantlay, an American who shot a 65 to share the 18-hole lead with Rory McIlroy, and France's Matthieu Pavon, like Cantlay seeking his first major crown.
World number three McIlroy stood sixth on 137 after struggling to a 74 while Japan's Hideki Matsuyama, the 2021 Masters champion, was another stroke back on 138 after a bogey-free 66.
But pre-Open favorite Scheffler meanwhile was in real danger of missing the cut after carding a 74 to stand on five-over 145.
Meanwhile DeChambeau, among 12 players from Saudi-backed LIV Golf in the field, made five birdies and four bogeys, with a tap-in birdie at 18 keeping him solidly in the hunt.
"Was very happy with how I stayed patient, gave myself good opportunities when they mattered, and I made a lot of clutch putts coming in," DeChambeau said.
"If the wind picks up, it's going to be diabolical."
Detry, ranked 55th, matched his PGA Tour best finish with a runner-up effort in March's Houston Open.
The 31-year-old Belgian had his best major finish last month with a share of fourth at the PGA Championship.
The back-nine Friday starter birdied three consecutive holes before a bogey at 14, then birdied the first, third and fifth holes to grab the lead only to bogey the sixth and eighth to shoot 67 and share third.
"My confidence is good. My play is good. I feel mentally stable as well," Detry said. "I think I've got all my chances. I think it's going to be a fun challenge."
McIlroy, chasing his first major win in 10 years, closed with a bogey at the ninth. He also had bogeys at 11 and the par-3 15th against a lone birdie at the third.
"Had to have your wits about you," McIlroy said.
"I wish I had converted a couple more of the chances.
"Still overall in a great position going into the weekend."
The four-time major winner from Northern Ireland played alongside top-ranked Scottie Scheffler and second-ranked Xander Schauffele.
At the par-5 fifth, where Scheffler and Schauffele each made double bogeys, McIlroy made a nine-foot par save putt.
Pre-tournament favorite Scheffler was left sweating on whether he would advance to the weekend rounds after his 74. It was the first birdie-less major round of Scheffler's career, the two-time Masters champion undone by bogeys at the par-3 15th and 17th plus his double.
"It was definitely a grind," said Scheffler. "I'm proud of how I fought. I gave myself a good chance. Today I just couldn't get the putts to fall.
"This golf course can be unpredictable at times, and maybe it got the better of me the last couple days."
Schauffele, who won last month's PGA Championship, was four off the lead after shooting 69 to stand on 139 in a share of 10th.
Matsuyama hopes to sustain his momentum."I was playing really great," he said through a translator. "My short game was on point. That really helped.
Hopefully I can keep that momentum through the weekend."
- AFP
14 June 22:25
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) June 14, 2024Tiger Woods pars the 10th to stay on the projected cut line (+5). ??
??: NBC & @peaco*ck | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/hXoUrDxglZ
14 June 22:23
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 14, 202445-footer and a fist pump ??
2022 champion @MattFitz94 makes birdie to get within the projected cutline @USOpenGolf.pic.twitter.com/MJGdF7FZBV
14 June 22:18
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) June 14, 2024Brooks Koepka putts it in from off the 18th green to get back to even. ??
??: NBC & @peaco*ck | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/Q9CSfP9HfW
14 June 21:09
.@OhioStateMGOLF's Neal Shipley into, ahem, scarlet figures after this 36-foot birdie putt on No. 11. pic.twitter.com/VfWt7z4fUo
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 14, 2024
14 June 20:58
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 14, 202430-footer for a share of the lead ??
Rookie @MatthieuPavon starts his round birdie-birdie @USOpenGolf.pic.twitter.com/U3459dqIew
14 June 20:46
ROARS ON 4! ??@TigerWoods with his first birdie of the afternoon. pic.twitter.com/uTsh8039iv
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 14, 2024
14 June 19:14
— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) June 14, 2024Scottie Scheffler shot a birdie-free 74 today and is in danger of missing the cut. ??
14 June 19:13
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) June 14, 2024Bryson DeChambeau cards a second round 69 to reach 4-under heading into the weekend.
??: NBC & @peaco*ck | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/ERSwnjHQMr
14 June 18:26
A new co-leader @USOpenGolf!@TomDetry grabs a share of the lead with his fifth birdie of the day. pic.twitter.com/SuCFMsNKUt
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 14, 2024
14 June 17:12
Birdie to get one back for @McIlroyRory ??pic.twitter.com/M1l4nb2i70
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 14, 2024
14 June 17:11
Straka strikes with ace at par-3 ninth at US Open
Austrian Sepp Straka made a hole-in-one at the par-3 ninth hole at Pinehurst on Friday in the second round of the 124th US Open.
The 31-year-old blasted his tee shot at the 194-yard hole and it bounced onto the green then rolled into the hole.
Straka celebrated the shot with hugs and high-fives with his caddie, Duane Bock, and his playing partners in the group, Americans JT Poston and Peter Malnati.
Straka's ace lifted him to two-over par for the round and the tournament after he fired a level par 70 on Thursday.
He had already made a triple bogey at the par-4 third and sandwiched a birdie at the par-5 fifth between two bogeys earlier on the front nine.
Straka had his best major finish last year when he shared second at the British Open.
Straka has won two career US PGA Tour titles, taking the 2022 Honda Classic and 2023 John Deere Classic.
- AFP
14 June 16:49
McIlroy stumbles while Detry, Hatton charge at US Open
Rory McIlroy, chasing his first major triumph in 10 years, stumbled from a share of the lead with two bogeys early in Friday's second round of the US Open at Pinehurst.
McIlroy fired a bogey-free opening five-under par 65 on Thursday to share the 18-hole lead with ninth-ranked Patrick Cantlay, an American seeking his first major title who tees off in the afternoon.
Third-ranked McIlroy, a back-nine morning starter Friday, missed a birdie putt from just inside 12 feet at the par-5 10th and lipped out on a six-foot par putt to make bogey at 11 and fall one off the lead.
McIlroy missed an 11-foot birdie putt at 14 and at the par-3 15th, his tee shot rolled off the front of the green, setting up a 10-foot par putt miss that brought another bogey.
At the par-3 17th, McIlroy rolled in a clutch par putt from just inside 40 feet and at 18, he found sandy brush off the tee but salvaged par to make the turn on 3-under.
Not all struggled on the dome-shaped elevated greens surrounded by dirt and weeds.
Belgium's Thomas Detry, a back-nine starter, made his own early move to share second at 4-under with birdies from just beyond 17 feet at 11, 13 feet at 12 and 16 feet at 13.
Also on 4-under was sixth-ranked Swede Ludvig Aberg, who was second at April's Masters in his major debut.
England's Tyrrell Hatton moved to 3-under, two back of Cantlay, with two birdies. After a three-putt bogey at the first, Hatton birdied the par-5 fifth, reaching the green in two to set up a tap-in putt, and par-4 seventh, where he sank a six-foot putt.
Also sharing fourth on 3-under with McIlroy and Hatton was France's Matthieu Pavon, a late starter.McIlroy, trying to win an elusive fifth career major, played alongside top-ranked Scottie Scheffler and second-ranked Xander Schauffele, both with major titles this year.
Schauffele was on one-under overall at the turn after a birdie at 18 while Scheffler made bogeys at 15 and 17 to stand 3-over.McIlroy, a 35-year-old from Northern Ireland, has won the past three times he began a major with a bogey-free round, taking titles at the 2014 British Open, 2012 PGA Championship and 2011 US Open.It was his sixth opening round of 65 or lower at a major.
Should McIlroy collect his first major title since the 2014 PGA Championship this week, it would mark the longest gap between wins for any player in US Open history, his 13 years breaking the record 11 shared by Julius Boros and Hale Irwin.McIlroy has 20 top-10 major finishes without a win over the past decade.
McIlroy has finished in the top-10 in his past five US Open starts, improving his position each year up to last year's runner-up showing behind fourth-ranked American Wyndham Clark.
Cantlay produced his best major start and led a major round for the first time in his career. His best major result was third at the 2019 PGA Championship.
- AFP
14 June 16:29
Tracking, tracking... in the hole on No. 18 for our 2003 U.S. Junior Amateur champion @harmanbrian. pic.twitter.com/3OM5GBTlWL
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 14, 2024
14 June 16:26
— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) June 14, 2024Rory McIlroy's birdie putt refusing to drop.
Brutal. ?? pic.twitter.com/ypVNv8XIlm
14 June 16:16
Going right at it.@XSchauffele moves to 1-under @USOpenGolf. pic.twitter.com/lT6z7FmtCA
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 14, 2024
14 June 14:15
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 14, 2024The first 5 on the card for Rory this week.
He's still bogey-free and co-leader. pic.twitter.com/bYeeRo03Vk
14 June 13:47
Hole locations for Round 2 at @PinehurstResort ?? pic.twitter.com/LIsowdOVvA
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 14, 2024
14 June 13:46
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 14, 2024The old reliable fairway finder.
The first tee shot of Round 2 belongs to @UGAGolf product @Gbsigg. pic.twitter.com/d2TlFLw9VW
14 June 06:58
McIlroy fires bogey-free 65 to share US Open lead with Cantlay
Rory McIlroy sank a birdie putt from just inside 20 feet at the 18th hole to complete a five-under-par 65 first round and match Patrick Cantlay for the lead at the US Open on Thursday.
World number three McIlroy, chasing his first major victory since the 2014 PGA Championship, delivered a bogey-free round at Pinehurst, defying its dome-shaped greens, sandy waste areas and wiregrass.
"I'm delighted with the start," McIlroy said. "As the week goes on the golf course is going to get a bit faster and a bit firey, but right now, there's opportunities out there and thankfully I was able to take advantage of them.
"I think more so this championship than the others, getting off to a good start is really important to try to keep yourself up there. Because you need to give yourself as much of a cushion as possible knowing what's lurking around the corner."
America's ninth-ranked Cantlay, a back-nine starter, birdied three of his last five holes for an early 65 and with McIlroy took a one-stroke lead over Sweden's sixth-ranked Ludvig Aberg, Masters runner-up in his major debut, with France's Matthieu Pavon and American Bryson DeChambeau sharing fourth on 67.
"It's the US Open. It's supposed to be hard," Aberg said. "That's what we're doing here."
McIlroy, a 35-year-old from Northern Ireland, sank a seven-foot birdie putt at the fourth hole then chipped in brilliantly from just off the green for a birdie at the par-5 fifth.
The four-time major winner added a birdie putt from just inside seven feet at the par-5 10th then birdied two of the last three holes, sinking an 11-footer at the par-4 16th and then his tension-packed putt at 18.
Scheffler one over; Woods struggles
"I think the one thing we got a little lucky with today was the cloud cover, so the golf course didn't get as fiery as I expected," McIlroy said.
"The nice thing is to go out there and take advantage of the conditions and get back out in the morning and try to keep the momentum going."
McIlroy was second in last year's US Open, his fifth top-10 effort in a row at the US Open with each better than the last.
An afternoon feature group with the world's three top players was dominated by McIlroy, with world number one Scottie Scheffler, the Masters champion, firing a 71 and second-ranked Xander Schauffele, who won last month's PGA Championship, on 70.
Scheffler has five PGA Tour wins this year, the most by any player at this stage since Tom Watson in 1980.
Schauffele snapped a two-year win drought last month with his first major triumph.
Cantlay, seeking his first major triumph, and McIlroy matched the low US Open rounds at Pinehurst, two 65s by Martin Kaymer on his way to victory in 2014.
"Played pretty solid most of the way," Cantlay said. "The golf course played pretty difficult. But drove it well. Lot of balls on the fairways. Left the ball in the right spots, for the most part."
Cantlay, the 2021 PGA Tour playoff champion, is a contender for a US berth at the Paris Olympics but must finish no worse than second this week to have a chance.
Aberg sank a six-foot birdie putt at the par-3 ninth to finish on 66 with six birdies and two bogeys.
"Very nice round of golf," Aberg said.
"Not a lot to complain about."
DeChambeau, last month's PGA Championship runner-up and the 2020 US Open champion, had four birdies and a bogey, holing out for birdie from 52 feet at 18.
"From a mental exhaustion perspective, this was probably the most difficult that I've had in a long time," DeChambeau said.
Pavon, ranked 24th, soared with eagles at the par-5 fifth on an 18-foot putt and on a 27-foot putt at the par-5 10th hole.
"I made my four best swings of the day on the par-5s and dropped two putts," Pavon said. "It gave me a little bit of freedom."
Five-time major winner Brooks Koepka and seventh-ranked Collin Morikawa, a two-time major winner, were among those on 70.
Tiger Woods, a 15-time major winner, struggled to a 74. He had five bogeys in a seven-hole stretch starting at the 16th after teeing off on the back nine.
- AFP
13 June 22:12
Bryson made birdie from here ?? pic.twitter.com/KXg4tAgyUk
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 13, 2024
13 June 21:03
More major struggles for Tiger after 74 to start US Open
The care Tiger Woods takes to improve his physical condition means the 15-time major winner isn't playing often enough to sharpen his game when he does compete in majors.
Woods has not been the same since suffering severe leg injuries in a 2021 car crash, and while his surgically repaired back and legs can better handle walking 72 holes, he can't find the form that made him an iconic champion.
"I wasn't as sharp as I needed to be," Woods said after firing a four-over par 74 to stand well off the first-round lead in the 124th US Open at Pinehurst.
"I'm physically getting better as the year has gone on. I just haven't been able to play as much because I just don't want to hurt myself pre, then I won't be able to play in the major championships.
"It's pick your poison, right? Play a lot with the potential of not playing, or not playing and fight being not as sharp."
At 48, Woods continues to draw huge crowds, but struggles to improve his game, hitting two birdies against six bogeys in the opening round.
"I didn't hit my irons particularly well. Didn't putt that great," Woods said.
"Drove it on the string all day. Unfortunately I just didn't capitalize on it.
"I was somewhat conservative in some of my end points. Then again, I didn't hit the ball very well either. It added up to quite a bit of distance away from the flag. It's not where I wanted to be on a lot of the holes."
Woods, who won his most recent major at the 2019 Masters, has undergone surgery on his back, knees and legs to be able to continue his career. Recreating the magic is another thing altogether.
"I'd like to hit a few putts. My speed was not quite there," he said.
"I 3-putted, two or three times. If I clean that up, if I get a couple iron shots not as loose as I did, I'm right there at even par.
"It's just so hard to get back. This is a golf course that doesn't give up a whole lot of birdies.
"I did the one thing I needed to do, which is drive the ball well. I just didn't capitalize on any of it."
Woods doesn't see any easing in Pinehurst's tricky domed greens, where a near miss can send a ball rolling down a long slope.
"This golf course is all about the greens. The complexes are just so difficult and so severe," he said.
"It's hard to get the ball close. It's just hard to get the ball on top of the shelves.
"Being aggressive to a conservative line is how you need to play this particular golf course."
- AFP
13 June 20:05
— James Colgan (@jamescolgan26) June 13, 2024Tiger stepping in to give Justin Thomas a few pointers on the range after a tough opening round.
Not very often you see that at the U.S. Open pic.twitter.com/xv03DHGcWI
13 June 20:02
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 13, 2024The great play continues for @XSchauffele.
Will he bring home another major this season? pic.twitter.com/AjV5G2KFgp
13 June 19:53
American Cantlay grabs early US Open lead with 65
Ninth-ranked American Patrick Cantlay birdied three of his last five holes to seize a one-stroke lead early in Thursday's US Open first round as the world's three top-ranked players teed off at Pinehurst.
Cantlay, seeking his first major triumph, fired a five-under par 65, making six birdies against a lone bogey to leap atop the leaderboard.
Sweden's sixth-ranked Ludvig Aberg, runner-up at April's Masters in his major debut, sank a six-foot birdie putt at the par-3 ninth to finish a four-under 66 to grab second.
France's Matthieu Pavon fired 67 to stand third while American Tony Finau closed with a bogey at the ninth to settle for fourth on 68.
As they finished, top-ranked Scottie Scheffler, world number two Xander Schauffele and third-ranked Rory McIlroy set off to test a 7,543-yard sandhills layout with domed greens, sandy waste areas and wiregrass.
Cantlay, the 2021 PGA Tour playoff champion, has a best major showing of sharing third at the 2019 PGA Championship at Bethpage.
He's also a contender for a US berth at the Paris Olympics but needs to finish no worse than second this week to have a chance.
The star group features Scheffler, considered the man to beat with five US PGA Tour victories this year, the most by any player at this stage since Tom Watson in 1980.
Two-time Masters champion Scheffler has 12 top-10 showings in 13 starts this year and could match 15-time major winner Woods as the only players to win a US Open while atop the world rankings.
Schauffele won last month's PGA Championship for his first major title, snapping a two-year win drought.McIlroy has five consecutive top-10 finishes at the US Open, improving every year in the run to place second in 2023.
Cantlay, a back-nine starter, blasted 35 feet out of a bunker to birdie 11, missed the green to bogey the par-3 15th, birdied 18 from just beyond 17 feet and sank a five-foot birdie putt at the first hole.
The 32-year-old American grabbed a share of the lead with a tap-in birdie at the par-5 fifth and a 20-foot birdie putt at the par-3 sixth, then seized the outright edge by landing his approach at the eighth green four feet from the hole and making the birdie putt.
Aberg began on the back nine and birdied the par-4 11th and 12th holes with birdie putts of just inside 19 feet and 32 feet respectively. After a bogey at 14, he birdied the 18th and first holes from about four feet.
After a tap-in birdie at five, he missed the green with his approach to bogey six but took second with his closing birdie.
World number 24 Pavon soared on eagles' wings.
The 31-year-old Frenchman sank an 18-foot eagle putt at the par-5 fifth, a birdie putt from just inside 38 feet at the par-4 eighth and a 27-foot eagle putt at the par-5 10th to seize the lead.
He made a bogey at 11 after finding a bunker with his approach, saved par at 12 with a putt from just inside 14 feet and saved par again at 14 from just over 23 feet.
In January, he became the first Frenchman to win a US PGA Tour event since 1907 with a triumph at Torrey Pines.
Finau began on the back nine, opening and closing it with birdies, and answered a bogey at the second with birdies at the fifth and seventh holes
Five-time major winner Brooks Koepka, chasing a third US Open title after wins in 2017 and 2018, and seventh-ranked Collin Morikawa, a two-time major winner, were among those on 70.
Morikawa shared third at the Masters in April and fourth at last month's PGA Championship. He was runner-up to Scheffler at last week's Memorial tournament.
Morikawa owns the final US berth for the Paris Olympics behind Scheffler, Schauffele and defending US Open champion Wyndham Clark.
Tiger Woods, a 15-time major winner struggling to overcome severe leg injuries from a 2021 car crash, struggled to a 74. He opened with a birdie at 10 but had five bogeys in a seven-hole stretch starting at 16.
- AFP
13 June 19:18
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 13, 20246 birdies
2 bogeys
10 parsLudvig Åberg is currently solo second and 4-under in his first ever @USOpenGolf round ?? pic.twitter.com/fjJq33fLuz
13 June 18:58
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) June 13, 2024Collin Morikawa finishes his first round with a long birdie putt to get back to even par.
?? USA Network pic.twitter.com/JkaEt80tGu
13 June 18:40
Great shot, better reaction.@Collin_Morikawa loved this one @USOpenGolf. pic.twitter.com/hZcyBBSp2L
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 13, 2024
13 June 18:40
Great shot, better reaction.@Collin_Morikawa loved this one @USOpenGolf. pic.twitter.com/hZcyBBSp2L
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 13, 2024
13 June 17:40
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 13, 2024Magnifique! ????
Solo leader @matthieupavon with his *second* eagle of the morning. pic.twitter.com/4hFyWbFfKh
13 June 16:38
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 13, 20245th hole: 5 eagles
All other holes: 0 eaglesIsaiah Salinda is the latest to grab a share of the lead at @PinehurstResort. pic.twitter.com/fpQbZqqwY0
13 June 15:44
It's go time ?? pic.twitter.com/Gb2f2feYVc
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 13, 2024
13 June 15:43
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 13, 2024Making the most of an incredible opportunity.
Colin Prater throws a dart at the first hole for a tap-in birdie @USOpenGolf. pic.twitter.com/a7UnbxQg1E https://t.co/HbSUErq2Te
13 June 15:23
Aberg grabs early lead with Tiger one back at US Open
Tiger Woods was among a host of contenders chasing sixth-ranked Ludvig Aberg, who grabbed the early US Open lead with two morning birdies on Thursday at Pinehurst.
Sweden's Aberg, runner-up at April's Masters in his major debut, began on the back nine and birdied the par-4 11th and 12th holes to move atop the leaderboard.
Aberg sank birdie putts from just inside 19 feet at 11 and from 32 feet at 12 to jump into the lead.Woods, a 15-time major winner struggling to overcome severe leg injuries from a 2021 car crash, started on the back nine with a birdie at the par-5 10th, sinking a putt from just inside 12 feet.
Woods added a 10-foot par putt at the 12th and another from just inside nine feet at 13 to stay in a pack at 1-under, but missed an 11-foot birdie putt at 14 to grab a share of the lead.
Also charging early was Logan McAllister, a 24-year-old American who began in the first group. He made an eagle at the par-5 fifth to seize the lead briefly, only to fall back with a bogey at the eighth.
World number 459 McAllister, who missed the cut in his only PGA Tour start at the 2022 Texas Open, reached the green in two from dirt left of the fifth fairway, then sank a seven-foot eagle putt.
Others on 1-under early included ninth-ranked Patrick Cantlay, fellow American Tony Finau, Sweden's Tim Widing and South African Casey Jarvis.
The formidable 7,543-yard sandhills layout tested players with lightning-fast elevated domed greens, sandy waste areas and native wiregrass.
Among 468 players in three prior US Opens at Pinehurst, only four broke par for 72 holes and just one, 2014 champion Martin Kaymer of Germany, finished better than one-under, winning by eight strokes on nine-under.
World number one Scottie Scheffler, second-ranked Xander Schauffele and third-ranked Rory McIlroy tee off together in the afternoon feature group.
Scheffler is considered the man to beat with five US PGA Tour victories this year, the most by any player at this stage since Tom Watson in 1980.
Two-time Masters champion Scheffler has 12 top-10 showings in 13 starts this year and could match 15-time major winner Woods as the only players to win a US Open while atop the world rankings.
Schauffele won last month's PGA Championship for his first major title, snapping a two-year win drought.
McIlroy has five consecutive top-10 finishes at the US Open, improving every year in the run to place second in 2023.
Seventh-ranked Collin Morikawa, a two-time major winner, was 1-over after a bogey at the fourth hole.
Morikawa shared third at the Masters in April and fourth at last month's PGA Championship. He was runner-up to Scheffler at last week's Memorial tournament.
With Monday's qualifying deadline looming, Morikawa is clinging to the fourth and final US berth for the Paris Olympics behind Scheffler, Schauffele and defending US Open champion Wyndham Clark.
Six Americans can overtake him, but five of them need a victory to do it.
- AFP
13 June 14:45
One hole, one birdie for @tonyfinaugolf. pic.twitter.com/80FmV2s64g
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 13, 2024
13 June 14:01
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 13, 20241-under thru 1 with a share of the early lead.
This is fun. @TigerWoods | @USOpenGolf pic.twitter.com/uwOd2lnCCf
