US Open: Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay tame ferocious Pinehurst No. 2 but Scottie Scheffler starts slowly

Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay emerged unscathed as Pinehurst’s notorious No. 2 course sunk its teeth into the first round field at the 124th US Open on Thursday.

Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay emerged unscathed as Pinehurst’s notorious No. 2 course sunk its teeth into the first round field at the 124th US Open on Thursday. Brutally firm and fast conditions sent scorecards spiraling in North Carolina yet Northern Ireland’s McIlroy and American Cantlay tamed the beast, each shooting five-under 65 to match the tournament’s lowest ever score at the venue and take an early share of the lead. Seeking to end a 10-year wait for his fifth major crown, world No. 3 McIlroy was a picture of control, avoiding a single bogey before signing off with a superb birdie putt from almost 20 feet. The omens looked good for the 35-year-old. When Germany’s Martin Kaymer opened with the same score in 2014, he repeated the feat the following day before coasting to victory. The last three times McIlroy has made a bogey-free start at a major, he’s gone on to lift the trophy – including at the 2011 US Open. “Certainly the major championships that I’ve won or the ones that I’ve played well at, I’ve always seemed to get off to a good start, and it’s nice to get off to another one,” McIlroy told reporters. “The greens are a bit more 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,” he added.