A late birdie blitz from Patrick Cantlay has left Australia’s early starters in the US Open in the American’s slipstream on the opening day at Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina.
Cantlay carded three late birdies en route to a sizzling five-under-par 65 that put him one shot clear of Masters runner-up Ludvig Aberg.
Cantlay’s round left Cam Smith, who was one-over after shooting a 71, six shots off the clubhouse lead. The 2022 British Open winner finished with his second birdie on a tricky Pinehurst No. 2 layout.
Two shots further behind was Min Woo Lee, whose 73 included a double-bogey at the par-four eighth. Cam Davis was seven-over after double-bogeying the tenth – his first hole, half the field having started on the back nine.
Australia’s other trio of entrants, Adam Scott, Jason Day and Jason Scrivener were among the afternoon starters, as was tournament favourite Scottie Scheffler in a high-profile threesome with Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele.
“Played pretty solid most of the way,” said Cantlay, who needed only 23 putts on the turtle-shell greens that are one of the course’s greatest defence.
“I thought the golf course played pretty difficult. But drove it well. A lot of balls on the fairway. Left the ball in the right spots, for the most part.”
Swede Aberg, playing in his first US Open, produced a brilliant display of ball-striking and birdied his closing hole, the par-three ninth, with Frenchman Matthieu Pavon a further shot back.
Sergio Garcia, who squeezed into the field as an alternate, opened with a 69 which was only the sixth bogey-free round in US Open history at Pinehurst No. 2.
Five-times major winner Brooks Koepka (70), one of 12 LIV Golf players in the 156-player field, was three under through 12 holes before three bogeys over his closing holes dropped him back.
Tiger Woods, competing in only his fourth event of the year and who accepted a special exemption to play, enjoyed an encouraging start but his putter abandoned him as the round wore on and he opened with a 74.
“I didn’t hit my irons particularly well,” Woods said. “Didn’t putt that great. Drove it on the string all day. Unfortunately I just didn’t capitalise on it.”
with Reuters
Source Agencies
