Tour Confidential: Spherical 1 surprises from the U.S. Open at Pinehurst

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Round 1 of the 2024 U.S. Open was challenging, however loads of big-name gamers — like co-leaders Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay, who tied the U.S. Open report at Pinehurst No. 2 with a 65 — went low. They’re being chased by Ludvig Aberg, who shot 66 in his U.S. Open debut, and a bunch of different execs additional again. With that, what was essentially the most shocking storyline from the opening spherical at Pinehurst?

Josh Berhow, managing editor, (@Josh_Berhow): Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele — two massive pro-tournament favorites — didn’t play properly in any respect… and they’re nonetheless very a lot in it! Scottie was two over by means of six and received in at one over, so he’s simply six again, which is manageable. He appeared misplaced on the inexperienced at instances. And Xander drove it everywhere in the planet and nonetheless shot 70. He’s 5 off the lead. So if these had been simply one-round hiccups for these two, they escaped Thursday with out an excessive amount of injury. However they nonetheless have work to do.

Alan Bastable, government editor (@alan_bastable): Scottie Scheffler six again at any level in any event is a shock, however the actual stunner needs to be Matthieu Pavon’s three-under 67. Simply ask him. “I’ve been crushed by the few final golf programs,” he stated after his spherical. “I performed horrible at Quail Hole. I performed horrible at PGA. I performed horrible at Memorial, too. These kind of golf programs I’m not likely — not saying prepared, however I used to play like barely simpler golf programs again in Europe.” Nothing simple about No. 2.

Ryan Barath, senior editor, tools (@RDSBarath): I’ve to go together with Ludvig Aberg — who’s at present sitting in third place after spherical one. That is solely his third main championship and it looks like the extra demanding the take a look at, the higher he performs. With different extra skilled gamers not reaching their potential right now at Pinehurst (Justin Thomas for instance shot a 7-over 77), it positive seems like Ludvig’s recreation shines when the going will get powerful. If the USGA retains ratcheting up the circumstances heading into the weekend, I count on he may very well be preventing for the trophy come Sunday afternoon.

Josh Sens, senior author(@JoshSens): As I kind this, Viktor Hovland is eight-over by means of 17 holes. Increase your hand should you noticed that coming. I didn’t.

Jessica Marksbury, senior editor (@Jess_Marksbury): I’ll go together with Bryson DeChambeau, who, at three underneath, seems to be choosing up proper the place he left off, after contending all the best way to the tip on the PGA and ending T6 on the Masters. In his prior PGA Tour life, Bryson all the time appeared a bit streaky. This 12 months, he’s a constant powerhouse on the sport’s greatest phases, and an entertaining one at that. Nice to see!

Zephyr Melton, assistant editor (@zephyrmelton): Brooks Koepka’s sloppy again 9 was shocking to see. On the flip, he was three underneath and the person to beat early. However after three back-nine bogeys, he’s within the crowded group at even par. It’s not typically Brooks falters as soon as he’s seized the lead. It’ll be fascinating to see how he responds tomorrow.

Dylan Dethier, senior editor (@dylan_dethier): Patrick Cantlay has not been taking part in notably properly by his requirements and got here in off a missed reduce on the limited-field Memorial. And whereas his main report is okay, it’s unspectacular for a participant of his caliber. I used to be stunned to see him put up the low spherical of the morning — and pleasantly stunned to see he and Rory McIlroy atop the board by day’s finish. Let’s see that weekend pairing!

Jack Hirsh, assistant editor (@JR_HIRSHey): That is sort of a “hear me out” take, however it’s Rory McIlroy. Sure, sure I do know, golf’s prodigal son, blah blah blah. I do know his report of late within the U.S. Open first spherical and ending within the top-10 every of the final 5 years, however it simply looks like he’s too Jekyl and Hyde in majors. He was a non-factor at Augusta. He was mainly a non-factor at Valhalla, the place he gained his final PGA. He performed his approach out of the Memorial on the weekend too. I simply didn’t count on him to be in prime kind right here. I used to be improper as he performed one in all simply two bogey-free rounds all day (stunned nobody picked Sergio (the opposite bogey-free spherical) earlier than me, however I had already written this earlier than I considered that). Now he’s given us all hope for a fifth main … Must be a very good weekend for the bookies.