U.S. OPEN
Cantlay, McIlroy Share First-Round Lead After 65s at Pinehurst
By David Shefter, USGA
12 MIN READ
Jun 13, 2024
Village of Pinehurst, N.C.
A bogey-free 65 has four-time major champion Rory McIlroy tied for the first-round lead at Pinehurst No. 2 with Patrick Cantlay. (USGA/Mike Ehrmann)
Will the 124th U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort Country Clubs Course No. 2 produce yet another first-time major champion? Or will one of the game’s greats end a 10-year major-championship drought?
Patrick Cantlay has long been a player with the unsanctimonious label of being one of the best to have not broken through in one of the game’s four Grand Slam events, especially at this championship where his best finish in eight starts is a share of 14th in 2022 and 2023.
Cantlay, coming off a T-53 in last month’s PGA Championship and winless on the PGA Tour since the 2022 BMW Championship, carded a 5-under-par 65 that was later matched in the afternoon by 2011 champion Rory McIlroy, winless in the game’s biggest four championships since the 2014 PGA Championship at Valhalla.
They own a one-stroke lead over U.S. Open rookie Ludvig Åberg, while 2020 champion, Bryson DeChambeau, and 2024 Farmers Insurance Open winner, Matthieu Pavon, of France, are two back after 3-under 67s. Raleigh, N.C., resident and left-hander Akshay Bhatia, Tony Finau and Tyrrell Hatton – all seeking a first major title – were another stroke back. Bhatia, a two-time PGA Tour winner, could become the first southpaw to win a U.S. Open.
The large group at 1-under 69 included Sergio Garcia, who is playing in his 25th consecutive U.S. Open, 2022 U.S. Amateur champion Sam Bennett, Belgium native Thomas Detry and Canadian Corey Conners.
Should Cantlay hoist the trophy on Sunday, he would be the sixth consecutive first-time major winner of the U.S. Open dating to Gary Woodland at Pebble Beach. The last time the U.S. Open had six consecutive first-time major winners was from 1973-78 when Johnny Miller started the trend at Oakmont and Andy North ended it at Cherry Hills. The current streak of five was previously matched from 1992-96 (Tom Kite at Pebble Beach and ending with Steve Jones at Oakland Hills).
Of course, McIlroy, the 35-year-old Northern Irishman, would also like to see his major-less drought end at 36 starts. During that stretch, he’s registered 20 top-10s, which include his runner-up finish a year ago to Wyndham Clark at The Los Angeles Country Club. In 2022, he finished no worse than solo eighth in all four majors, including second at the Masters Tournament to Scottie Scheffler.
Prior to turning pro, the then-UCLA All-American was the low amateur in the 2011 U.S. Open, reached the final of the 2011 U.S. Amateur at Erin Hills, and played on the 2011 USA Walker Cup Team. As a collegian he won the Haskins Award for being the top player and the Mickelson Award, given annually to the nation’s top freshman. He even carded a 60 in the 2011 Travelers Championship a week after the U.S. Open, the lowest 18-hole score ever shot by an amateur in a PGA Tour event.
Since turning pro in 2012, he’s claimed eight PGA Tour titles, competed on two Ryder Cup Teams and two Presidents Cup Teams.
The key to Thursday’s round was making clutch par putts, including a nifty up-and-down from 81 feet on No. 7. Starting on the par-5 10th hole, Cantlay birdied 11, 18, 1, 5, 6 and 8 with the lone blemish coming on the 206-yard, par-3 15th hole.
He holed out from a greenside bunker on No. 11, made a 17-footer on 18, stuffed his approach on No. 1 to 5 feet, two-putted the par-5 fifth green from 47 feet, made a 21-footer on the 230-yard, par-3 sixth and closed the run with a 4-footer on the 486-yard eighth.
After rolling in a 7-foot birdie on the 528-yard, fourth hole, statistically the second toughest in Round 1 with a scoring average of 4.45, McIlroy followed by holing a chip from 67 feet for birdie at the par-5 fifth. An up-and-down par save on the sixth when he pitched to 20 inches from 60 feet kept the momentum going. He made a 6½-footer for birdie on the par-5 10th and an 11-footer at the 523-yard 16th to reach 4 under par before capping the round off at 18.
What is Next
All 156 players will play Round 2 on Friday with the low 60 scorers and ties advancing to the weekend. Round 2 begins at 6:45 a.m. EDT. Television coverage begins on Peacock at 6:30 a.m.
Notable
Local “hero” Michael McGowan, who grew up down the street at Pine Needles and resides in Southern Pines, had the honor of hitting the opening tee shot. McGowan’s grandmother is the late World Golf Hall of Famer Peggy Kirk Bell, who along with her late husband, Warren, purchased Pine Needles in the 1950s and turned it into a world-class facility that has hosted four U.S. Women’s Opens. Michael’s father, Pat McGowan, played 15 seasons on the PGA Tour and qualified for four U.S. Opens.
Amateur Parker Bell, a standout at the University of Florida who advanced to the semifinals of the 2023 U.S. Amateur, registered the first birdie of the championship. The Tallahassee, Fla., native rolled in an 11-foot putt on the par-4 first hole.
Fathers Day is Sunday but it’s already a cool week for longtime caddie Joe LaCava. While he carries for Patrick Cantlay, his son Joe LaCava Jr. is on the bag of qualifier Logan McAllister. McAllister, of Oklahoma City, Okla., registered the first eagle of the championship and posted even-par 70. The elder LaCava has previously caddied for the likes of major champions Fred Couples and Tiger Woods.
Quotable
It sort of brings me back to links golf when I was a kid a little bit. The greens are a bit more sort of slopey and there's a bit more movement on them. But there's options. You can chip it. You can putt it. I'd love if we played more golf courses like this. – Rory McIlroy on Pinehurst
Scariest shot? I mean, No. 8 is pretty scary, knowing that long and left is no good. So, all you try to do is just dump it on the right side, take a putt. Luckily, we did that today. – Ludvig Aberg
I’ve got to keep my hem energy up there. Eat a lot. Get a lot of carbs and food in me, good protein, just recover tonight. I got to get up early and go back at it in the morning. Recovery is going to be key. I'm going to go hit a couple balls, make sure it's all dialed in and ready for tomorrow. – DeChambeau
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Are you interested in a group outing to the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club? Click the link below and fill out the form, then a member of the ticketing team will follow up with more information! Includes premium food and beverage service available throughout the day. Limited, all-inclusive group hospitality options for daily and championship rounds.
Discover USGA Experiences, the Official Experience & Travel Provider for the U.S. Open. Our Official Ticket Packages include exclusive benefits you cannot get anywhere else, such as behind-the-scenes tours, premium hospitality, and more to ensure you enjoy your ultimate USGA experience! Limited, all-inclusive group hospitality options for daily and championship rounds.
The 1895 Club at Oakmont, the most premium ticket package available from Wednesday – Sunday at the Championship, features a beautifully appointed, climate-controlled hospitality area centrally located on the course between the 14th and 15th holes. Includes premium food and beverage service available throughout the day. Limited, grou hospitality options for daily.
