The U.S. Open, now in its 124th year, has kicked off at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina. The tournament started with top-ranked Scottie Scheffler leading the charge, reminiscent of Tiger Woods’ dominance in his prime. Scheffler began his round in the afternoon alongside Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele. While Scheffler stumbled with two early bogeys, McIlroy surged ahead with consecutive birdies to reach 2-under.
Defending champion Brooks Koepka, a two-time winner, appeared to be on track for a strong start before faltering with three late bogeys, settling for an even-par score at the end of the day. It was Patrick Cantlay who made a statement by finishing strong in the early wave, carding a 5-under 65 by making three birdies in his final five holes. This impressive round gave him a brief two-shot lead over the field as he entered the clubhouse.
Meanwhile, Ludvig Åberg closed the gap with a solid 4-under 66, marking his first-ever round at the U.S. Open. As for Tiger Woods, after a mixed start with early birdies followed by struggles, he finished the day with a 4-over 74. With hopes of making the cut, Woods faces a challenge on Friday after failing to do so at the PGA Championship last month.
For those eager to follow the action, tee times and viewing information are readily accessible. The leaderboard showcases the intense competition among the top players, with only 19 out of 156 participants currently under par. As the tournament progresses, the race for the top spots promises an exciting showdown. With the difficulty of Pinehurst No. 2 expected to increase over the weekend, players must bring their A-game to stay in contention.