Patrick Cantlay (-5) is the first leader of the US Open 2024. If one thinks about his profile as a player, anyone would say that the USGA Major fits him like a glove. He clings to the field like no one else, withstands all kinds of pressure and putts like an angel when it comes to saving pars. If things get tough and complicated, Cantlay is always good company.
However, the stubborn reality of his record in the US Open (and the rest of the Majors) does not say the same. He has never finished in the top 10 in this tournament, and he has already played it nine times, and it is the first time he has led a Major. Doesn’t it seem incredible? More than one would have bet that this was not the case…
Cantlay has signed a card that did not seem to exist today at Pinehurst No.2. Yes, you can play under par, there is the leaderboard to prove it, but shooting 65 is another story. You have to play very well, as Patrick has done, and add some delicacies to the mix. For example, he has made two from outside, one from the bunker on the 11th and another on the 18th from the fairway about five meters from the flag. In addition, he has made six putts between four and eight feet for par. All those he has thrown from that distance. Don’t think about it anymore, there is that five under par.
Don’t be fooled by Cantlay’s five under. The course is very tough and birdies are almost white blackbirds. They are made, yes, but sparingly. And that even though the conditions are impeccable, without wind and with the greens still a bit receptive. Vertiginous, but with enough softness to be able to leave some close. Not many. The key this week is not to make many bogeys.
One stroke behind the leader is Ludvig Aberg (-4). The Swede is up again in a Major, as in the Masters, where he finished second. Let’s not forget that Augusta was his first appearance in Majors and this US Open is the third. The wonder boy of European golf strikes again. His recipe has been patience and discipline. “I don’t know if I’m disciplined in all aspects of my life, but I do like to do things well”. By the way, what a thing, Aberg’s first memory of the US Open is Pinehurst in 2014. He also played here in the US Amateur of 2019. You see, there seems to be a link.
From the morning round, there are nine players who have finished under par. In addition to Cantlay and Aberg, we must add a surprising Matthieu Pavon (-3). We say surprising because of his most recent results. He comes from missing two cuts and his last top 10 was in Singapore on the DP World Tour. However, it is clear that the French golfer continues to grow. Today he has led with -5 after an eagle, his second of the day. It is the first time this has happened in a US Open at Pinehurst.
The rest of the players under par: Tony Finau (-2), SH Kim (-1), Corey Conners (-1), Sergio García (-1), Sam Bennett (-1) and Aaron Rai (-1).
Other key names from this start are Brooks Koepka (PAR), who got three under par, and lost a lot with three bogeys between the 13th and 16th, Collin Morikawa (PAR), who has survived two double bogeys, Robert Rock (PAR), who has made a galactic round being semi-retired, or Cameron Smith (+1), who without being brilliant has managed to survive.
Tiger Woods (+4) has not started in the best way, but his golf has offered much better feelings than his result. From the tee he has been almost masterful and what has failed have been the irons. Physically he is well and eager to turn things around. “I have not been good with the irons or the putt. That has been the key. I have left them further than I would have wanted in the shots to the green and then I have putted three times. If we take that away it would have been a great round of golf”, he says. At the end he goes to the practice range to polish things. Another good sign that he is physically well.
In the most negative we have to place Phil Mickelson (+9), Justin Thomas (+5) or Adrian Meronk (+6). David Puig (+6) has also not had a good start. He has fought all of them, he has left his skin in every recovery, but from tee to green he has been quite unsuccessful and this is the reason why he has finished with such a high result. Even so, he has room for recovery. Remember that the cut in the US Open is in the top 60 and ties.
