Round 1 of the 2024 U.S. Open is in the books, and for the most part, Pinehurst No. 2 did exactly what was expected.
The course nestled in the Sandhills of North Carolina is widely revered for the natural rough, and widely reviled for its treacherous greens. Work your way around the course with patience, and you can be rewarded with a fair score. But make small mistakes, and a good round can turn into a nightmare in an instant.
For Patrick Cantlay, the first round didn’t seem too challenging. He made his way around the course efficiently, and finds himself on top of the leaderboard with a surprisingly low 5-under, 65. Joining him on top is another familiar name: Rory McIlroy. McIlroy had a clean bogey-free round, with five birdies planting him in a tie for first.
They weren’t the only golfers to find success on Day 1, as some familiar – and not quite as much – names are just behind them on the leaderboard.
Ludvig Aberg may not be a household name – yet – but he earned a lot of respect at The Masters, and his 4-under, 66 in his first-ever U.S. Open round is noticeable.
One shot back of Aberg is Matthieu Pavon and Bryson DeChambeau, who each carded 3-under, 67s.
Look a little deeper into the scoring though, and you’ll notice only 15 golfers find themselves under par after this first test of the week. (Don’t be deceived, they won’t stay there.) Dig even deeper and you’ll notice some of those not under par are among the best in the world.
That includes the literal best player in the world right now, Scottie Scheffler. A massive favorite going into this weekend, Scheffler scratched and clawed his way around Pinehurst, and settled for a 1-over, 71. Not a terrible score in the U.S. Open, but one that has to look intimidating six shots back of the leader. A birdie on 17 helped save the day for Scheffler.
And then there are some legendary names further down the list. Tiger Woods had a frustrating day, carding a 4-over, 74. Phil Mickelson was even worse, near the bottom of the leaderboard with a 9-over, 79.
Round 2 of the tournament isn’t going to get any easier. The greens are playing fast, and the weather is hot and dry. Friday’s play begins bright and early, with the first groups heading out at 6:45 a.m.
Cantlay will begin his round at 1:25 p.m., while Scheffler will head out early, at 7:29 a.m.
Something to keep in mind as we enter the rest of the tournament, don’t be fooled by how many players are currently under par. The first round is always the nicest of the week at Pinehurst.
In 1999, 23 players were under par after Round 1. Only one ended up there at the end of the tournament. In 2005, nine finished Thursday under par. None ended up there. And in 2014, 15 were under par after the first round. Just three ended up there.
