12:18AM
Rory McIlroy on his stellar first round
The golf course is a little different to what it was last year, but still the same strategy, same mindset. Just trying to hit it into the middle of greens and giving yourself chances every single time, taking your medicine if you do hit it into trouble.
My short game was good early on. I chipped in at five and had a really good up-and-down on six, another really good up-and-down on eight. But apart from that, I think I hit every other green. It was a really controlled round of golf.
I enjoy playing in these groups. When you’ve been out here for, whatever it is, 16 or 17 years, sometimes you need a little extra to get the juices going, and being in a group like that definitely helps.
Credit: Shutterstock/Erik S Lesser
12:10AM
DeChambeau cleans up for par
After winning hearts and minds at the US PGA, DeChambeau is in the hunt again after a three-under round of 67.
Credit: Getty Images/Alex Slitz
12:05AM
A day to forget for Hovland
He has just rolled in a putt on the ninth green to finish with an eight-over 78. That is his US Open challenge over before it began.
11:54PM
Tyrrell Hatton and Tommy Fleetwood finish up on the ninth
Both players make pars on the short hole. Hatton is in the clubhouse with an impressive two-under 68 while Fleetwood is also in the mix at level-par. It appears doubtful that Hatton has the patience for Pinehurst but this has been a good start.
Credit: AP/George Walker IV
11:36PM
McIlroy finishes with a birdie!
This has been an exemplary first round: McIlroy has been firing on all cylinders and will sign for a five-under 65 to match the score of Patrick Cantlay. No bogeys and McIlroy had his ball on a string from tee to green. His first round was six shots better than Scheffler’s, who was ragged by his very high standards.
11:32PM
Bogey for DeChambeau on the 7th
He will be disappointed to lose a shot at a short par four, but he was always going to be up against it after missing the green long. DeChambeau falls back to three-under.
11:29PM
Solid approach from McIlroy
He will have an uphill birdie from 15 feet or so to tie Cantlay, and will surely secure a bogey-free opening round. Scheffler misjudged his second, and it bounded some 40 feet beyond the pin. McIlroy has looked in total control today.
11:20PM
Fairway found by Scheffler and McIlroy on the 18th
Only a modest 435 yards the home hole, so they will have wedges in their hands for the seconds. Schauffele, at level par, flipped his three-wood over to the left.
11:16PM
Scheffler drains a birdie putt on the 17th
Despite only hitting five fairways at Pinehurst, the World No 1 is still within touch of the leaders as he moves back to one-over. McIlroy taps in for another par, just one hole remaining to keep his card clean.
11:11PM
To the 17th…
McIlroy with another iron shot that finishes pin high, will have a birdie putt from 25 feet or so on the dangerous par three. Scheffler hits one of his better shots of the day, well inside McIlroy.
Over at the sixth, DeChambeau two-putts from long range to save par.
11:03PM
Birdie for McIlroy
The Northern Irishman walked in that birdie putt from 15 feet on the 16th, and it was another hole expertly navigated from tee to green. McIlroy joins Aberg and DeChambeau at four-under, just one behind Cantlay. Can he sneak one more birdie in to tie the lead?
11:02PM
Bogey for Scheffler
Over at the 16th, it was Scheffler’s turn to benefit from a free drop but he could not salvage a par. His putt was an unconvincing attempt and the World No 1 falls back to two-over. Schauffele drains his putt for a par.
10:53PM
Another birdie for DeChambeau
He makes his four on the par five fifth, although he benefitted from an enormous break off the tee. A tall, thin pole that is used to record strokes gained statistics was in his line of sight, so he was able to drop out to the left where he had a clearer shot. His drive was not far from being out of bounds.
10:48PM
A stroke of luck for Schauffele
He missed the 16th fairway left and his second from the waste area clattered into some branches before bouncing out into the fairway. He will have a chance to get up and down for par from there. Scheffler’s second will also be played from the pine straw.
10:41PM
Scheffler will need to head to the range after this round…
His driving has been strangely suspect, and another fairway has been missed on the 16th. No such problems for McIlroy who finds the cut and prepared once again. Tyrrell Hatton has also just picked up a birdie to return to two-under.
10:35PM
Cracking birdie try from McIlroy on the 15th
His tee shot on the tough par three sneaked on to the front edge, and his birdie lag from 50 feet or more scared the hole. Another hole ticked off, still no bogey on the card. Scheffler also makes his par to stay at one-over.
10:26PM
Matsuyama with another hole out from sand
10:25PM
McIlroy cleans up for par
He rushed his birdie try some six feet past, but held his nerve. Still no bogeys on the card as he walks to the 15th tee. Two tough, 200-plus yard par threes in the final four holes.
10:17PM
McIlroy finds the heart of another green
Another pin-high approach shot from McIlroy on the 14th, after finding another fairway. This has been almost the perfect US Open round, although Patrick Cantlay’s earlier today may end up being a shot or two better.
10:04PM
Schauffele showing his resillience
The second birdie in four holes on the back nine moves the US PGA champion back into red figures. In the same group, it is another stress-free two-putt par for McIlroy to remain three-under. Just five holes remaining – can McIlroy keep his card clean?
9:58PM
DeChambeau picks up another birdie
He joins McIlroy at three under after cutting the 389-yard par four third down the size. DeChambeau is back to his best after something of a slump last year.
Credit: AP/George Walker IV
9:49PM
Another well-played hole from McIlroy
It’s a stress-free par on the card at the 12th. Still no dropped shot for McIlroy in this opening round. Alongside him, Schauffele remains at level-par while Scheffler is still grinding away. It’s not the machine-like accumulation of fairways and greens found, but he is keeping himself in the fight. The World No 1 remains one-over.
9:36PM
Contrasting fortunes for McIlroy and Scheffler on the 12th
Scheffler has lost another tee shot to the left. McIlroy split the fairway, and interestingly he went with a stinger-like shot with driver. Much lower than his usual ball flight, and his ball scampered down the fast-running fairway.
9:31PM
Hatton with a dropped shot
The Englishman looks mystified at Pinehurst’s second green, but he pushed that short putt off the blade. Hatton falls back to one-under. Alongside him, Tommy Fleetwood is level-par and going quietly about his work.
9:23PM
Another fine recovery from McIlroy
A stroke of luck to find a clean lie in the wasteland, but he did well to control his approach to the 11th from the dirt. Safe as houses, 25 feet right of the pin. Scheffler also has a birdie putt upcoming, as he tries to get back to level par.
9:13PM
Another birdie for McIlroy!
He piped his drive down the fairway on the par five 10th and had the power to send his second to the greenside. McIlroy’s lag-putting from long range was sound, and he rolled in the birdie putt from six feet or so. McIlroy now three-under. A birdie chance passes Scheffler by and he stays at one-over.
9:07PM
Bryson DeChambeau holes out on the 18th
DeChambeau sends the crowd into raptures with a chip-in birdie from the mouth of the 18th green, his ninth. DeChambeau reaches the turn on the same score as McIlroy, at two-under.
8:56PM
Another par for McIlroy
McIlory reaches the turn in 33 after a regulation par at the par three ninth. That is three shots better than playing partners Scheffler and Schauffele as they head to the back nine. Impressive work from McIlroy, and a par five to come next.
8:48PM
Hatton with a birdie at the 17th
He seemed to despite his tee shot on the par three, dropping his club and kicking it on the ground, but his ball skipped over the bunker to within birdie range. He may have got away with catching that slightly fat. But Hatton is now two-under after eight holes.
8:42PM
McIlroy with a super par save
Had no control of his second shot from the tanglely long grass, and predictably his second skipped through the green long and right. It was another razor-sharp pitch from McIlroy though, and he remains at two-under. Still no bogey on the card after eight holes. Scheffler also makes par on the same hole.
Credit: Getty Images/Jared C. Tilton
8:29PM
Mistake from McIlroy
He is in the lap of the gods after pulling his drive into the wasteland left of the eighth fairway. McIlroy was lining up down the left, but there was no fade if that is what he was playing for. Scheffler has split the fairway.
8:24PM
Scheffler with a bounce-back birdie
Scheffler has been uncharacteristically loose so far, but he has just dissected the par four seventh to move back to one-over. No birdie for McIlroy, who stays at two-under. Another hole without a bogey. Schauffele played a nifty bunker shot but missed his par putt. The US PGA champion drops back to two-over.
8:18PM
To the seventh…
More solid golf from tee to green from McIlroy, finding the heart of the green. An outside chance to get to three-under. Scheffler, who needs to get moving in the right direction at two-over, finally finds a fairway and his approach sets up a good birdie opportunity.
Credit: Getty Images/Sean M. Haffey
8:09PM
A horrid start from Viktor Hovland
He is five-over thru five holes after starting on the 10th. Two double bogeys, the first of which came when he was forced to take an unplayable from the wild grass in the waste area on the 11th.
8:02PM
More short game excellence from McIlroy
He saves his par after his tee shot on the par three sixth skipped through the green. McIlroy remains at two-under and bogey free so far.
8:02PM
England well represented on the leaderboard
Aaron Rai is in the clubhouse at one-under, while Tommy Fleetwood and Tyrrell Hatton are on the same score five holes into their opening rounds.
Credit: AP/Matt York
7:50PM
DeChambeau, one-under par, up to his old tricks
7:48PM
McIlroy chips in for birdie!
He was making a bit of a hash of the par five fifth after finding the wasteland left not once but twice. But a moment of magic with his wedge secures the birdie and moves McIlroy to two-under after five. That could have been a gut punch of a bogey but instead it was a birdie that sends McIlroy into the top five.
7:39PM
A great first round from Robert Rock
The man with the best head of hair in golf nipped round Pinehurst in just 70 blows today. Also surprising was the sight of Rock wearing a cap. This is his first four-round tournament since 2022 having made it through qualifying.
Credit: AP/Matt York
7:27PM
Birdie for McIlroy!
This time the putter obliges and this is a very solid start indeed. He joins playing partner Schauffele at one-under after four holes. More scrambling required for Scheffler but this time he saved par to remain one-over. The par five fifth to follow for the headline group, and all three players can reach the green in two.
7:21PM
Woods on his first-round 74
I didn’t hit my irons particularly well. Didn’t putt that great. Drove it on the string all day. Unfortunately I just didn’t capitalize on it.
I thought I did the one thing I needed to do today, which is drive the ball well. I did that, I just didn’t capitalize on any of it.
Credit: AP/George Walker IV
7:19PM
Aberg on Pinehurst
Oh, it’s really hard. Especially when you have a wedge in your hand or something like that where normally you would go at the pin, but you can’t really do that here.
Yeah, absolutely. It’s the US Open, it’s supposed to be hard. That’s what we’re doing here.
Credit: AP/George Walker IV
7:17PM
McIlroy continues to look serene
Another iron shot straight down the flag from McIlroy, and he will have a short-range birdie putt coming up on the fourth. A good chance to get some momentum going with a par five to follow.
7:08PM
Bogey for Scheffler
One-over par after three holes for the Masters champion. His putter failed to get him out of trouble. Safe pars from McIlroy and Schauffele, though Schauffele has found the wasteland left of the fourth. Corking drive from McIlroy splits the fairway.
Another missed fairway for Scheffler: pushes his drive into the sand right on the fourth.
Credit: Getty Images/Jared C. Tilton
7:00PM
All a little scruffy from Scheffler
Another wayward tee shot on the third, and after finding sand with his second shot Scheffler will have around 15 feet to escape with a par. Wyndham Clark has also missed his first two tee shots well left.
6:45PM
Another par on the card for McIlroy
But he has found both fairways and greens so far which is encouraging. Tidy chip shot from Scheffler to save his par on the second alongside McIlroy, but Schauffele betters the pair of them with a birdie three. Just the second birdie on the tough second hole all day.
6:42PM
Birdie to start for Tommy Fleetwood
Makes his four on the par five 10th, which is Fleetwood’s first hole. Many fancy Fleetwood to go well this week given the echoes of Shinnecock Hills in the course set up. The US Open’s ball-striking examination should be to Fleetwood’s liking.
6:40PM
Battling par from the defending champion
Wyndham Clark shows a delicate touch to get up and down for par after seeing all parts of Pinehurst’s first hole. Up ahead at the second, Scheffler will need to get up and down from beyond the green after missing the fairway right. Scheffler stripes his drive and approach to set up a short-range birdie try. After a booming drive, McIlroy finds the heart of the green with an eight-iron.
6:30PM
McIlroy’s birdie try slips past
He played from a slight break off the right that was not there. Nevertheless, a sound start with a par at the first. Alongside McIlroy, Schauffele two putts from par from long range and Scheffler also makes his four. As you were.
6:26PM
Morikawa on his opening round
It’s a grind. I felt a lot of emotion on the last two holes just because it’s not — birdies aren’t just coming anyone’s way and it’s nice to finish on that note.
For me, it’s just — the doubles hurt. I wanted to minimize as many bogeys and doubles as possible. Just have to take that into tomorrow.
Look, I think the amount of birdies I made shows that I can still shoot a low score, so three more days, hopefully we can just kind of continue that.
Credit: Getty Images/Sean M. Haffey
6:23PM
Nice approach from McIlroy on the first
Promising that his distance control is already honed in. McIlroy will have a birdie putt from around 15 feet on the admittedly scoreable opening hole.
6:17PM
Three putts to finish for Finau
That will make lunch taste a little bitter, but still a strong start from Finau with a two-under 68.
6:16PM
The big three tee off
McIlroy, Schauffele and Scheffler have just got their opening rounds under way. All three players take a long iron for position on Pinehurst’s 400-yard yard opener. McIlroy and Scheffler’s tee shots are hung out to the right a touch, but all three balls are in the fairway.
6:14PM
A classy start from Aberg
Aberg rolls in his birdie putt on the ninth from six or seven feet and he moves to four-under under. A major winner in waiting, surely.
6:07PM
Cracking tee shot at the ninth by Aberg
That was flushed from the Swede, a towering iron shot that never left the flag on the par three. He will have a presentable birdie chance to move to four-under and within one of Cantlay. This provides some insight into the quality of his ball-striking:
Ludvig Åberg: 14/14 fairways, 16/18 greens in regulation today
He’s the 2nd player to hit every fairway and 16+ GIR in a U.S. Open round at Pinehurst. Brendon de Jonge also did it in the first round 10 years ago.
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) June 13, 2024
6:02PM
No 64 for Cantlay
But that is a cracking first round from Cantlay: a five-under 65 at Pinehurst. It would be very surprising if any of the late starters bettered that score. Cantlay currently has a two-shot lead.
Patrick Cantlay shoots 65, the lowest score ever shot in a U.S. Open at Pinehurst by someone not named Martin Kaymer.
Cantlay needed just 23 putts today, his career-low in any major round.
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) June 13, 2024
5:59PM
Woods in the clubhouse at four-over
No disgrace given the stringency of this test of golf, but it will be a battle to make the cut tomorrow for Woods. The good news is he has maximum recovery time as part of the early-late side of the draw. Woods showed his short game skills to get up and down on the ninth after his tee shot caught the false front.
5:55PM
New tournament leader
Patrick Cantlay has birdied the difficult par four eigth to claim the sole lead at five-under. He has also just found the heart of the green on the par three ninth. Cantlay will have a 20-foot putt for a 64, which would be the lowest US Open round at Pinehurst. His iron play has been exemplary.
Credit: Shutterstock/Erik S Lesser
5:50PM
Strong finish from Morikawa
After holing out from sand on the 17th, Morikawa cans a long birdie putt from fully 40 feet on the last. Morikawa will sign for a level-par 70 featuring two double bogeys, which is some going. Within striking distance with only 13 players under par currently.
5:48PM
Cantlay performing on the big stage
Considering his undoubted quality and the fact that he has eight PGA Tour wins, Patrick Cantlay’s record in the majors does not make much sense. He has only one top five in 28 starts in the Big Four. This is more like it. He is four-under and in tie for the lead with two remaining.
5:47PM
Cameron Smith in at one-over
The LIV player has been out of sorts this year and struggled off the tee today, but will sign for a very respectable one-over 71. Given the way Pinehurst tests your short game and its similarities with Australia’s sandbelt courses, this ought to suit Smith.
5:45PM
Lovely birdie from Tony Finau
Textbook golf on the seventh from Finau, pin-point ball-striking. That’s birdie number four and Finau joins Aberg at three-under, just one behind the leaders. Finau would be a very popular winner, but a long way to go.
5:41PM
Bogey for Woods
His putter cannot spare him this time, and a bogey at the par four eighth sees Woods fall back to four-over. Just the par three ninth to play in his opening round.
Credit: Getty Images/David Cannon
5:35PM
Morikawa with a sandy birdie
After a strong start, the two-time major winner double-bogeyed two of Pinehurst’s par threes to tumble down the leaderboard. The par three 17th has been kinder to him though, holing out for birdie from a greenside bunker. Lovely splash shot. Morikawa gets back to one-over. Alongside him, Justin Thomas is still toiling at eight-over.
5:32PM
A dropped shot for Aberg
Found a very awkward spot on the par three sixth where his ball stayed up on the lip of a bunker. Was almost impossible for Aberg to build a stance and that bad break costs him a shot. Back to three-under.
5:27PM
A reminder of some of the later starters
Off the first:
1803 Jason Day (Aus), Harris English, Tom Kim (Kor)
1814 Rory McIlroy (NIrl), Xander Schauffele, Scottie Scheffler
1825 Brian Harman, Wyndham Clark, Nick Dunlap
1836 Hideki Matsuyama (Jpn), Jon Rahm (Esp), Jordan Spieth
1847 Shane Lowry (Irl), Keegan Bradley, Martin Kaymer (Ger)
Off the 10th:
1803 Robert MacIntyre (Sco), Nick Taylor (Can), Mackenzie Hughes (Can)
1814 Tyrrell Hatton (Eng), Tommy Fleetwood (Eng), Tom Hoge
1825 Bryson DeChambeau, Viktor Hovland (Nor), Max Homa
5:22PM
Matt Fitzpatrick battling away
The 2022 winner at Brookline is three-over after 16 holes having started on the 10th. Alongside the Englishman is Tiger Woods, who drains a lengthy putt to save par on the seventh and remain on the same score as Fitzpatrick.
5:17PM
Another player joins the leaders at four-under
Patrick Cantlay has just made his fifth birdie of the day at the par three sixth to join Aberg and Pavon. Cantlay has let himself down with some underwhelming performances at the majors, but this is more like it. Cantlay lost in the final of the 2011 US Amateur.
Credit: AP/Mike Stewart
5:13PM
The fifth yielding plenty of birdies
Only two par fives at Pinehurst No 2 and the fifth is the shortest of them at 582-yards, well in range in two with the ball running out. Ludvig Aberg has just made his birdie four to join Pavon at four-under. Pavon found the waste area to right of the 14th but did well to advance his second to the mouth of the green.
5:08PM
Some respite for Woods
He holes a gutsy par putt at the par three sixth having picked up a birdie on the fifth. The three-time US Open winner remains at three-over. Tony Finau has taken a step in the right direction with birdie at the fifth to move to two-under.
5:03PM
Bad day for Mickelson
Phil Mickelson needs the US Open to become the sixth male player to complete the career grand slam. It’s not happening this week. He has made nine bogeys in his opening 13 holes and is nine-over. The 53-year-old has hit only three greens in regulation and on these putting surfaces, even his magical shortgame struggles.
4:57PM
Cantlay on the move
The American has birdied the 5th to move to -3 through 14 and a share of second place with Aberg.
4:55PM
On a string
Aberg, one shot off the lead on -3, has not missed a single fairway today and his 358-yard drive off the fifth landed perfectly again.
4:45PM
What a save
Pavon keeps hold of his one-shot lead with a nerveless 12ft putt.
4:40PM
At the other end
There are some big names out there who are really struggling to get to grips with this course. Mickelson is +8, Justin Thomas +6, Dustin Johnson +4 and Woods +3.
4:34PM
Bogeys for Koepka and Pavon
Brooks has dropped his first shot of the day on the par-four 13th. He had a 50-foot put for birdie but pushed the ball 15ft past the cup and two-putted from there.
And Pavon’s lead is now just one after bogey.
4:22PM
Woods falling foul on the greens
Been out with Woods and he is haemorrhaging shots on the greens. That will be a huge disappointment to the 48-year-old, because the one thing his battered body lets him practise exhaustively is his putting.
4:18PM
Thomas falling apart
Another bogey for Thomas, his third in a row. It is the second time he has bogeyed three holes in a row today and he is floundering on +6.
4:13PM
Eagle for Pavon
The Frenchman vaults into a two-shot lead on -5 with a stunning long-range putt, the ball just plopping into the hole. Superb judgement.
4:02PM
Sixth bogey for Thomas
Poor old Justin is not having a good day, missing a seven-footer for par on the 11th resulting in his sixth bogey of the day.
3:51PM
And then there were three
Aberg with a sublime approach at the 1st which leaves him 4ft for birdie to join the leaders on three under.
3:46PM
Pavon keeps pace with Koepka
The Frenchman has just birdied the par-four 8th, moving to three-under-par.
3:38PM
Koepka leader of the pack
Following a surge in co-leaders, Koepka birdies the 10th to move to -3. After hitting his tee shot into the rough, Koepka recovered to give himself a birdie putt from 30 feet… and he nailed it.
3:35PM
Six co-leaders
There’s been a real charge with Aberg and Molinari also moving to -2 to join Koepka, Pavon, Finau and Salinda.
3:31PM
Four co-leaders
Isaiah Salinda, ranked 217th in the world, has joined Koepka and Pavon on two-under-par after sinking a 21-foot putt for eagle on the fifth. And Finau has also joined the -2 group.
3:24PM
Tiger trouble
Woods gets his birdie putt on the 1st all wrong, leaving himself a good 8ft for par to remain +1. Can he claw it back? No! He pushes his par putt wide and drops another shot to +2. That’s three bogeys in four.
3:19PM
Got to feel for Theegala
Sahith Theegala’s round isn’t getting much better after his bogey-bogey-double bogey-bogey opening. He’s currently +7 through 6. Ouch!
3:15PM
Koepka holding firm
Brooks with a long putt on the 9th for the solo lead but it slides narrowly wide. That’s a par gimmee. He’s reading these green so well.
Not so good from Morikawa who double bogeys the ninth and slides back to +1. In the greenside bunker, Morikawa’s chip shot did not stop rolling and ended up off the green at the other side.
3:11PM
Power slide
Remember Irishman Seamus Power, who at one point was -1 through two? Well the wheels have slightly come off and he’s now +3 after bogeys on the 14th and 2nd, either side of a double bogey on the 18th.
3:08PM
Struggle for Thomas
In the same group as Morikawa and Koepka, Justin Thomas has hit his fourth bogey of the day to move to three-over-par.
2:53PM
Share of the lead
Koepka was not at the top of the leaderboard on his own for long. Frenchman Matthieu Pavon has just made eagle on the par-five fifth to join Koepka on two-under.
2:49PM
Another drop shot for Woods
Woods’ putter was working well for him earlier but on 17 he three-putts to drop another shot. He is now one-over-par despite a strong start.
2:43PM
Koepka moves into share of the lead
Morikawa’s second at the par-four seventh is sublime and leaves him with a short putt for birdie for the chance to move to two-under and a share of the lead. The putt is around five feet out but Morikawa misses. A wasted opportunity for the American.
Playing alongside Morikawa is Koepka, who sinks his birdie putt to move to -2 and into a share of the lead with Logan McAllister.
On 15 just after Finau came close to a hole-in-one, his birdie effort slides past and he remains at -1.
2:33PM
Bogey for Woods
Woods’ putter has saved him on numerous occasions today but not on 16. He is punished for a wayward tee shot and he drops back to even-par as his par putt just slides by.
Zalatoris joins him on even-par after a birdie.
2:32PM
McAllister goes top
A birdie on 10 for Logan McAllister takes him to two-under-par and the outright lead is now his.
2:31PM
Nearly a hole-in-one for Finau
We were so, so close to seeing the first hole-in-one at the 2024 US Open and it is Tony Finau who is the man to nearly do it. On the par-three 15th, his tee shot goes just past the left-hand side of the hole.
So close for Finau
Credit: Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images
2:28PM
Woods (-1), Fitzpatrick (+1), Zalatoris (+1)
On the par-four 16th, Woods misses the fairway to left, which is going to give him a tricky attempt at getting onto the green in two. Sensibly and pragmatically, he just decides to chip out safely onto the fairway.
Zalatoris’ second is sublime, giving him a good chance of a birdie. What Zalatoris can do, Fitzpatrick can also do as his ball ends up right next to Zalatoris’.
2:24PM
No outright leader
Aberg finds himself in the 14th bunker and cannot save par so he drops back to one-under-par, which means we have an almighty share of the lead at -1.
2:14PM
So close for Fitzpatrick
Nearly a birdie for Fitzpatrick at 15 as his second on the par three hits the pin, which the Englishman loves leaving in.
2:13PM
Koepka into the red
Playing alongside Thomas is Koepka, who birdies the fifth to move to one-under-par.
Brooks Koepka into the red
Credit: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
2:12PM
Some respite for JT
After three straight bogeys, Thomas finally has stopped the rot with a birdie on five to move to +2.
2:11PM
Selected tee times (BST) later in the day
Starting at first hole:
1814 Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, Scottie Scheffler
1825 Brian Harman, Wyndham Clark, Nick Dunlap
Starting from the tenth hole:
1814 Tyrrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood, Tom Hoge
1825 Bryson DeChambeau, Viktor Hovland, Max Homa
2:02PM
Par for Woods (-1)
Woods’ birdie putt slides agonisingly past the right-hand side of the hole and he stays at -1. Had that putt dropped, he would have joined current leader Ludvig Aberg on -2.
Zalatoris’ birdie putt is from a long way out but he sinks it. It has been a tough start for him but that will give him some confidence.
Fitzpatrick’s putt is from half the distance but he cannot take advantage as he leaves it short.
1:58PM
Birdie chance for Tiger?
Woods’ second shot on 14 finds the green and has a birdie attempt coming up inside 10 feet to move to -2.
On the fourth hole Justin Thomas’ day is going from bad to worse as he drops back to +3. Not a good day so far for JT.
1:53PM
Outright leader
Logan McAllister has bogeyed the eighth to drop back to -1, which means Aberg has the outright lead now on two-under-par.
1:48PM
New joint-leaders
After a birdie on 11, Aberg has followed that up with another birdie on 12 to join Logan McAllister on two-under-par and a share for the lead.
1:45PM
Woods recovery
Woods’ putter is working for him at the moment as he lands his par putt from just outside 10 feet to stay at one-under. That is a high-quality par save.
Fitzpatrick will not be too disappointed to also escape with a par on the 13th to remain at +1. Zalatoris cannot make it a trio of pars as he bogeys to drop to +2.
Tiger has made a positive start to his first round
Credit: Alex Slitz/Getty Images
1:39PM
Aberg birdie
Swede Ludvig Aberg, part of the winning European team at the Ryder Cup last year, has made birdie on the 11th and moves to -1, where he joins a number of players at one-under.
Ludvig Aberg hoping to have a strong week at Pinehurst
Credit: Andrew Redington/Getty Images
1:38PM
Woods (-1), Fitzpatrick (+1), Zalatoris (+1)
Fitzpatrick found the middle of the fairway and finds the green, however it rolls slightly off the back of the green. Zalatoris missed to the left of the fairway and goes for a low shooter. His shot also goes off the back of the green. Woods, like Fitzpatrick, found the fairway with his tee shot but he suffers the same fate as the other two.
1:33PM
Strife for Thomas
The American bogeyed the second and goes a fair bit left on the third. He attempts to chip onto the green but only finds the bunker and will do very well to save par. He is already +1 and could be dropping at least one more shot here.
1:28PM
Woods on the rescue
Woods went wayward with his second shot on 12th but his rescue shot from the bunker is of a high quality. It is certainly not an easy putt but Woods sinks it to remain at one-under.
Fitzpatrick is also wayward with his second and he has a very long putt to save par. It is a great effort but it comes up just short so it is another drop shot for the Englishman to drop back to +1.
On the fifth Dane Frederik Kjettrup has landed the second eagle of the tournament so far to move to -1.
1:21PM
Birdies for Finau, Kuchar
Tony Finau and Matt Kuchar have joined a number of players on one-under-par.
1:10PM
Eagle for McAllister
We have our first eagle of the week as American Logan McAllister sinks his eagle putt at the par-five fifth.
1:09PM
Par for Woods (-1)
Despite being a long, long way from the hole Woods nearly lands his birdie putt but has to settle for a par to remain at one-under. Fitzpatrick lands the bogey putt to drop back to even-par.
Tiger Woods has made a good start to the 2024 US Open
Credit: Alex Slitz/Getty Images
1:08PM
Trouble for Fitzpatrick
Fitzpatrick elects for the putter despite being a way off the back of the green. He does not get his putt right and it rolls back down the hill. These greens are already causing havoc. With his second effort he opts for a chip, not the putt. He gets within ten feet and has a chance of escaping with just a bogey.
1:03PM
Woods (-1), Fitzpatrick (-1), Zalatoris (+1)
On the 11th tee, Woods’ tee shot finds the middle of the fairway. However Fitzpatrick just misses the fairway by about a yard and is in some thick rough. He gets a decent connection on his second shot but he gets too much on it and it rolls off the back of the green. Zalatoris is in a similar position but his second is terrific, landing on the green and giving him a chance of a birdie to make up for a bogey on the first. Woods will be very disappointed with his effort, which stays at the front of the green, a long way from the hole.
12:53PM
Birdies for Woods and Fitzpatrick
A superb third shot gives Tiger the early birdie chance and he takes it to move to -1. Fitzpatrick also lands his putt to move to one-under.
Zalatoris has suffered the same fate as Manassero did earlier. Out of position off the back, his putt does not climb high enough and ends up rolling back close to where he hit the putt. These greens are already causing chaos and Zalatoris bogeys his first hole of the day.
12:48PM
Early birdie chance for Tiger?
Woods gets great control on his third and lands it safely onto the green, within ten feet of the hole and with the chance of an opening birdie. Despite being in a good position, Zalatoris gets it all wrong with his third and goes over the back of the green. Fitzpatrick’s chip is delightful, leaving him a simple birdie putt to come.
12:45PM
Tiger in some strife?
It is a long par five the 10th, over 600 yards. After a great tee shot, Tiger does not get his second right and he ends up in the sandy rough to the right. Fitzpatrick’s second comes up short of the green but leaves him in a decent enough position for his third shot.
12:43PM
Big names keep coming
We have another high-profile trio on their way out for their first rounds. Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa and Brooks Koepka are just getting started on the first hole.
12:33PM
Here goes Tiger
Woods is under way and he finds the fairway on the 10th. Both of his playing colleagues, Matt Fitzpatrick and Will Zalatoris, also find the fairway.
Meanwhile up ahead of him is Ireland’s Seamus Power, who has birdied his second (11th hole) to move to -1.
12:25PM
Tiger nearly ready
15-time major champion Tiger Woods is teeing off in the next five minutes alongside Will Zalatoris and 2022 champion Matt Fitzpatrick from the 10th hole.
12:23PM
Amateurs enjoying themselves
Not long after amateur Parker Bell registered the first birdie at the 124th US Open, fellow amateur Omar Morales from Mexico has also made a birdie on the first.
12:16PM
First birdie of the day
We have had dropped shots aplenty already but we have the first birdie of the 124th US Open. Amateur Parker Bell of Tallahassee has birdied the first to get a bit of red on the leaderboard.
12:06PM
Bad starts on opening holes
The talk going into this first round was about how tough the course would play and so it is already proving. Michael McGowan, from Southern Pines, North Carolina, has just registered a double-bogey six on the first. Playing alongside McGowan is Carter Jenkins, who hails from Raleigh, North Carolina, around 70 miles away from Pinehurst. He makes a bogey on the first so not the start he would have wanted. The final member of that trio, Logan McAllister, makes par.
Meanwhile on the 10th there is plenty of trouble already. Italian Matteo Manassero has registered a triple-bogey eight on the par five after trouble in and around the green. Rico Hoey makes a double bogey.
11:59AM
Pin positions for first round
11:52AM
McIlroy u-turn
The big news story of the week building up to the US Open is that Rory McIlroy and his wife Erica Stoll have reconciled. If you remember, the build-up to the US PGA was dominated by the news of McIlroy filing for divorce, but it seems that over the last month the situation has changed dramatically. Tom Morgan and James Corrigan have the latest from Pinehurst.
The build-up to the US Open has been dominated by news of Rory McIlroy’s personal life
Credit: Andrew Redington/Getty Images
11:46AM
Opening tee shots
The 124th US Open is under way. On the first hole we have Michael McGowan, Carter Jenkins and Logan McAllister getting their rounds under way whilst on the tenth Rico Hoey, Tom McKibbin and Matteo Manassero are also starting up.
11:43AM
Carnage at the US Open?
There has been plenty of discussion in the build-up to the third major of the year about the challenges of the greens at Pinehurst. Tiger Woods is expecting a “war of attrition” and words like brutal have also been used. Our very own James Corrigan has all the latest from Pinehurst.
How will the players fare this week with the tough greens?
Credit: Katie Goodale/Reuters
11:35AM
Tee times
Here are some of the selected tee times (BST) from today’s first round:
Starting at the first hole:
1240 Justin Thomas (USA), Collin Morikawa (USA), Brooks Koepka (USA)
1251 Rickie Fowler (USA), Adam Hadwin (CAN), Phil Mickelson (USA)
1814 Rory McIlroy (NIR), Xander Schauffele (USA), Scottie Scheffler (USA)
1825 Brian Harman (USA), Wyndham Clark (USA), Nick Dunlap (USA)
Starting at the tenth hole:
1229 Will Zalatoris (USA), Matt Fitzpatrick (ENG), Tiger Woods (USA)
1251 Tony Finau (USA), Ludvig Åberg (SWE), Dustin Johnson (USA)
1825 Bryson DeChambeau (USA), Viktor Hovland (NOR), Max Homa (USA)
For a full list of all the tee times for today, click here.
11:21AM
Preview
The third major is upon us and it is time for the US Open from Pinehurst. Only four players have finished under par in three previous US Opens held over the resort’s Number Two course so it is set to be a real test for the field this week.
We are in for a treat across the first couple of days as the top three in the world all head out together for the first two rounds. World number three Rory McIlroy is playing alongside world number one Scottie Scheffler, who won the Memorial Tournament last weekend, and world number two Xander Schauffele, who won his maiden major last time out at the US PGA.
McIlroy is still waiting for his first major victory since 2014, but he is as confident as ever to win his fifth major this week.
“I still feel like being the most successful European in the game is within my reach – I’ve got Seve and Faldo to pass in terms of major wins,” he said, when arriving at the course on Tuesday.
Rory McIlroy has dominated the build-up with off-course news but is hoping to dominate on the course
Credit: Alex Slitz/Getty Images
“But regardless, I’m really proud of my body of work over the past 15 years and everything that I‘ve achieved, whether it be season-long titles or individual tournaments or majors.
“Obviously getting my hands on a fifth major has taken quite a while, but I’m more confident than ever that I’m right there, that I’m as close as I’ve ever been.”
Scheffler’s victory at the Memorial was his fifth on the PGA Tour this season and he became a two-time Masters champion back in April. Unsurprisingly, Scheffler is the bookies’ favourite to win at Pinehurst this week. Having come close on a number of occasions, Schauffele finally recorded his first major win at Valhalla last month.
The build-up has been dominated by the off-course news of McIlroy’s u-turn on his divorce with Erica Stoll, but also the difficulty on the course of the greens, which are tipped to be brutal and could create carnage. Defending champion Wyndham Clark, who won the US Open at LA Country Club last year, warned on Monday: “If they get any firmer and faster, the greens will be borderline.” 15-time major champion Tiger Woods is expecting a “war of attrition” this week.
One man who will not be competing this week is Jon Rahm, who has withdrawn due to a foot infection.
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