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2024-06-17 00:53:00
2024-06-17 00:50:12
DeChambeau edges McIlroy in epic back-nine duel for second US Open victory
Bryson DeChambeau captured his second US Open title on Sunday, edging Rory McIlroy by one stroke in a dramatic back-nine duel at Pinehurst.
The 30-year-old American, who also won the 2020 US Open, fired a one-over-par 71 to finish on six-under-par 274 while McIlroy shot 69 to stand on 275 after 72 holes.
McIlroy, thwarted in a bid to end a 10-year Major win drought, led by two strokes with five holes to play.
But the four-time Major winner from Northern Ireland made bogeys on three of the last four holes to help hand the trophy to DeChambeau.
In a collapse mindful of Greg Norman's epic 1996 last-round loss to Nick Faldo at Pinehurst, McIlroy missed par putts from 2.5 feet at the par-3 17th and just inside four feet at the par-4 18th - tension-packed misses for bogeys that left McIlroy one behind.
DeChambeau found dirt and weeds left and a bunker at 18 but blasted his third shot to four feet and sank his pressure-packed putt for the victory.
Raising his arms in triumph, DeChambeau screamed and jumped for joy, then paid tribute to the late Payne Stewart, the 1999 US Open winner at Pinehurst who died only a few months later.
"That's Payne right there, baby," DeChambeau said into a television camera, pointing to a pin of Stewart on his cap.
- AFP
Scores after Sunday's final round of the 124th US Open at par-70 Pinehurst (a- denotes amateur):
274 - Bryson DeChambeau (USA) 67-69-67-71
275 - Rory McIlroy (NIR) 65-72-69-69
276 - Tony Finau (USA) 68-69-72-67, Patrick Cantlay (USA) 65-71-70-70
277 - Matthieu Pavon (FRA) 67-70-69-71
278 - Hideki Matsuyama (JPN) 72-66-70-70
279 - Russell Henley (USA) 70-70-72-67, Xander Schauffele (USA) 70-69-72-68
280 - Sam Burns (USA) 73-67-73-67, Davis Thompson (USA) 70-72-70-68, Corey Conners (CAN) 69-70-71-70
281 - Sergio Garcia (ESP) 69-71-71-70, Ludvig Aberg (SWE) 66-69-73-73
282 - Thomas Detry (BEL) 69-67-76-70, Collin Morikawa (USA) 70-74-66-72
283 - Tommy Fleetwood (ENG) 70-75-70-68, Akshay Bhatia (USA) 68-71-73-71, Taylor Pendrith (CAN) 71-70-70-72
284 - Shane Lowry (IRL) 74-71-70-69, Aaron Rai (ENG) 69-74-68-73
285 - Max Greyserman (USA) 71-74-72-68, Daniel Berger (USA) 73-70-73-69, Min Woo Lee (AUS) 73-69-72-71, Stephan Jger (GER) 70-70-73-72, Brian Harman (USA) 71-71-71-72
286 - Brooks Koepka (USA) 70-75-71-70, Zac Blair (USA) 70-69-75-72, Chris Kirk (USA) 71-71-72-72, a-Neal Shipley (USA) 70-73-71-72, Kim Joo-hyung (KOR) 71-68-71-76, Tyrrell Hatton (ENG) 68-71-70-77
287 - Adam Scott (AUS) 70-72-76-69, Kim Si-woo (KOR) 71-72-74-70, Sahith Theegala (USA) 77-68-72-70, Keegan Bradley (USA) 74-70-72-71, Isaiah Salinda (USA) 70-72-73-72, Christiaan Bezuidenhout (RSA) 72-71-72-72, Cameron Smith (AUS) 71-72-72-72, JT Poston (USA) 73-71-71-72, Denny McCarthy (USA) 75-67-72-73
288 - Frankie Capan (USA) 71-70-76-71, Harris English (USA) 70-73-74-71, Jordan Spieth (USA) 72-71-74-71, Scottie Scheffler (USA) 71-74-71-72, Tom McKibbin (NIR) 74-71-71-72, Tim Widing (SWE) 71-68-76-73, Emiliano Grillo (ARG) 70-72-73-73, Billy Horschel (USA) 73-67-74-74, a-Luke Clanton (USA) 76-69-69-74
289 - Justin Lower (USA) 72-73-74-70, Matt Kuchar (USA) 72-71-75-71, Nicolai Hoejgaard (DEN) 72-69-74-74, Mark Hubbard (USA) 74-69-70-76
290 - Nicols Echavarra (COL) 72-69-78-71
291 - David Puig (ESP) 76-68-69-78
292 - Kim Seong-hyeon (KOR) 69-72-83-68, Ben Kohles (USA) 77-68-76-71, Ryan Fox (NZL) 73-72-76-71, Sepp Straka (AUT) 70-72-78-72, Greyson Sigg (USA) 76-69-75-72, Brian Campbell (USA) 73-70-75-74, Adam Svensson (CAN) 73-70-74-75, Wyndham Clark (USA) 73-71-71-77
293 - Matthew Fitzpatrick (ENG) 73-72-79-69, Francesco Molinari (ITA) 73-72-77-71, Martin Kaymer (GER) 70-73-77-73
294 - Cameron Young (USA) 73-72-75-74, Brendon Todd (USA) 74-71-74-75
295 - Dean Burmester (RSA) 74-71-76-74
296 - a-Gunnar Broin (USA) 75-68-81-72, Brandon Wu (USA) 74-71-78-73
297 - Sam Bennett (USA) 69-72-77-79
298 - Jackson Suber (USA) 69-73-81-75
300 - Austin Eckroat (USA) 72-72-78-78
2024-06-17 00:40:51
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What a shot! Bryson DeChambeau emerges from 55 yards away in the bunker to land his ball beautifully. It's a very doable par putt for his second US Open victory.
And he does it!
DeChambeau shoots a final-round 71 to finish six-under for the championship.
2024-06-17 00:33:00
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McIlroy drops a shot at the last to shoot 69 for his final round to end on a score of five-under for the tournament. DeChambeau is one shot ahead as he approaches the 18th green, but he's also in that rough... and he lands in the bunker for a long shot in more ways than one.
A play-off is still on the table here as McIlroy looks on from the clubhouse.
McIlroys' playing partner Cantlay has to settle for par on the 18th to finish on four-under for the championship with a final round 70.
2024-06-17 00:27:21
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At the par-three 17th...
DeChambeau smokes it from the tee and lands it on the green and he contemplates a very doable birdie putt for the lead. But the big American doesn't punch it enough and his putt is just short.
Meanwhile, up ahead on the par-four 18th, McIlroy lands himself in the messy bits where many have gone before this weekend... and where Cantlay on four under is, too.
2024-06-17 00:19:41
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And it's a tie for the lead again.
McIlroy blinks as his pressure putt for par on the par-four 16th kisses the edge of the hole but goes past and he joins DeChambeau on six-under.
DeChambeau then makes an impressive attempt on a long putt for birdie, which goes oh so close and he has to settle for par.
Whispers of a play-off begin to make the rounds...
2024-06-17 00:00:24
2024-06-16 23:59:48So, the 15th does a number on DeChambeau, too. He three-putted to bogey and McIlroy nudges ahead by one shot on seven-under.2024-06-16 23:50:24
At the 15th...
Rory McIlroy bogeys at the par-three 15th to return to a shared lead with Bryson DeChambeau at seven-under, with McIlroy's playing partner, Patrick Cantlay, two back on five-under, so not out the mix by a long way.
2024-06-16 23:36:07
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McIlroy takes outright lead!
At the 13th, McIlroy takes the outright lead by two strokes, as DeChambeau bogeys the 12th and knows he's the chaser now as the Pinehurst gallery roars for Rory.
McIlroy is eight-under and DeChambeau six-under.
2024-06-16 23:06:20
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2024-06-16 22:46:44
The makings of a championship Sunday showdown
Bryson DeChambeau was matched by Rory McIlroy for the lead of the US Open in Sunday's final round as a back-nine battle loomed at Pinehurst.
DeChambeau, the 2020 US Open winner, stood on six-under at the turn with McIlroy one back after a birdie at nine and American Patrick Cantlay third, two back through nine.
But McIlroy, trying to end a 10-year Major win drought and capture his fifth major title, sank a birdie putt from almost 27 feet at the par-5 10th to grab a share of the lead.
And Cantlay moments later sank a 22-foot birdie putt to pull within one- of the co-leaders on five-under.
It was tension aplenty at Pinehurst.
DeChambeau sank a clutch 11-foot par putt at the eighth after his tee shot hooked way right to stay on six-under, pumping his right fist and screaming as the crowd roared.
It kept him one ahead of McIlroy, who had made a 15-foot birdie putt at the par-4 ninth to reach the turn on five-under.
Cantlay missed an eight-foot birdie attempt and nine to stay two back.
Pinehurst's dome-shaped greens and weedy sand waste areas were forcing disciplined shotmaking as the drama spotlight narrowed to three.
Third-ranked McIlroy, trying to end a 10-year Major win drought, sank a birdie putt from just outside 20 feet at the first.
DeChambeau left an 11-foot birdie putt short at the third then rolled over the fourth green on the way to missing a par putt from just beyond 16 feet, trimming his lead to one.
McIlroy put his second shot at the par-5 fifth on the green only for it to roll off and into dirt behind a weed.
His third rolled into a nearby bunker and he blasted out, missing a 23-foot par putt for a tap-in bogey.
Cantlay found a bunker at the fourth and missed a six-foot par putt but sank a four-foot par putt at seven.
DeChambeau, among eight players from Saudi-backed LIV Golf to make the cut, could become the second active LIV player to win a major after Brooks Koepka at last year's PGA Championship.
Four-time Major winner McIlroy last captured a Major at the 2014 PGA Championship but the 35-year-old from Northern Ireland has finished better at the US Open each of the past five years, including his runner-up showing last year.
Cantlay, seeking his first Major triumph, could overtake Collin Morikawa for the last US berth at the Paris Olympics, but would need at least a two-way share of second.
Matthieu Pavon, trying to become the second Frenchman to win a major title after Arnaud Massy at the 1907 British Open, stumbled back with bogeys at the first, fourth and eighth holes to stand on two-under through nine.
- AFP
2024-06-16 22:41:49
2024-06-16 22:36:54
WELL, WELL, WELL!2024-06-16 22:33:35
AS LEADERS HEAD INTO BACK NINE
Sunday leader Bryson DeChambeau's three-shot lead was cut down to just one heading into the final nine holes at Pinehurst on Sunday.
Rory McIlroy came in hot with a birdie on the first hole. He dropped a shot on the par-five fifth, but then made a birdie again at the par-three ninth.
DeChambeau dropped a shot on the fourth and had to show enormous nerve to save par just as McIlroy, in the hunt for a fifth Major, gained his second birdie on the ninth.
The back nine promises one helluva dog fight!
2024-06-16 22:22:27
2024-06-16 22:20:39
Here's that par saving putt from DeChambeau... Wow!2024-06-16 22:14:27
Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy birdies at nine to go five-under to one behind leader DeChambeau, who has a rescue job par putt on his hands at the eighth to stay on six-under...
Which of course he does when he sinks what is easily a 12-footer! The showman has some serious BMT!
2024-06-16 22:13:49
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AS FOR THE SAFFAS...
Christiaan Bezuidenhout finished tied for 35th on seven over, shooting a final-round 72. His compatriot Dean Burmester finished 69th on 15 over after a final-round 74.
They were the only two South Africans of four (Erik van Rooyen and Major debutant Casey Jarvis were the other two) in the field to make the cut at Pinehurst No 2 on Friday.
2024-06-16 20:52:57
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Leader DeChambeau tees off with a spicy pairing in hot pursuit
Bryson DeChambeau teed off with a three-stroke lead in Sunday's final round of the 124th US Open with Rory McIlroy among a pack leading the pursuit at formidable Pinehurst.
DeChambeau, the 2020 US Open winner, stood on seven-under par 203 after 54 holes, the only player to break par in each of the first three rounds over the dome-shaped greens and weedy sand waste areas at the 7,543-yard layout.
Third-ranked McIlroy, trying to end a 10-year major win drought, was on four-under 206 with American Patrick Cantlay and France's Matthiew Pavon.
Japan's Hideki Matsuyama, the 2021 Masters champion, and Sweden's sixth-ranked Ludwig Aberg, second at April's Masters in his major debut, were five back on 208.
Only six players were under par as DeChambeau started. He had just 10 rivals after 54 holes within the US Open's final-round victory comeback record, Arnold Palmer's 1960 fightback from seven strokes adrift.
DeChambeau, among eight players from Saudi-backed LIV Golf to make the cut, could become the second active LIV player to win a major after Brooks Koepka at last year's PGA Championship.
A victory would lift the 30-year-old American from 38th into the top 10 in world rankings.
DeChambeau, last month's runner-up at the PGA Championship, was nagged by right hip tightness on Saturday.
But he could match the record of eight consecutive major rounds at 69 or lower by breaking par on Sunday, tying Greg Norman from 1993 and Rickie Fowler from 2014.
The eventual winner in the past 25 US Opens has been within four of the lead entering the final round, which if true this year would narrow the contenders to DeChambeau and his nearest trio of rivals.
Pavon is trying to become the second Frenchman to win a major title after Arnaud Massy at the 1907 British Open.
He became the first Frenchman in 117 years to win a PGA Tour event by taking the title at Torrey Pines in January.
Four-time major winner McIlroy last captured a major at the 2014 PGA Championship but the 35-year-old from Northern Ireland has finished better at the US Open each of the past five years, including his runner-up showing last year.
"Hopefully I produce the golf that's needed to go one better," McIlroy said.
McIlroy & Cantlay spicy
It's a spicy penultimate pairing with McIlroy and Cantlay thanks to a spat that goes back to last year's Ryder Cup.
Cantlay edged McIlroy in a Saturday match and Cantlay's caddie, Joe LaCava, celebrated to a point on the 18th green that McIlroy felt infringed upon him.
They had words on the green and a confrontation in the parking lot.
The next day, McIlroy cruised in singles to help Europe beat the United States for the trophy.
McIlroy appeared to put any ill feelings at rest, however, shaking hands with LaCava and fist-bumping Cantlay on the first tee before they began.
Cantlay, seeking his first major triumph, could overtake Collin Morikawa for the last US berth at the Paris Olympics, but would need at least a two-way share of second to have a chance.
Aberg, who led after 36 holes before stumbling to a 73 on Saturday, could become the first player to win in his US Open debut since 20-year-old American amateur Francis Ouimet in 1913.
Matsuyama has a chance to become Asia's first male multiple major winner. He shared second at the 2017 US Open, his best major showing outside Augusta National.
World number one Scottie Scheffler, the huge pre-tournament favorite, fired a two-over 72 to stand on eight-over 288, 15 strokes off the pace as the last group began.
The American became the first player since Tom Watson in 1980 to win five US PGA Tour titles before the US Open and has 12 top-10 finishes in 13 events this year, including his second victory at the Masters.
- AFP
2024-06-16 19:45:16
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The leaders will tee off at 20:21 SA time.
Can the explosive Bryson DeChambeau emulate his hero and fellow lover of driver's caps, the late Payne Stewart, by walking in his victorious footsteps at Pinehurst No 2 on Sunday?
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DeChambeau takes three-stroke lead into US Open final round
American Bryson DeChambeau carried a three-stroke lead into Sunday's final round of the 124th US Open with Rory McIlroy among a pack leading the pursuit at Pinehurst.
DeChambeau, the 2020 US Open winner, stood on seven-under par 203 after 54 holes, the only player to break par in each of the first three rounds over the dome-shaped greens and weedy sand waste areas at the 7,543-yards layout.
Third-ranked McIlroy, trying to end a 10-year major win drought, was on four-under 206 with American Patrick Cantlay and France's Matthiew Pavon.
Japan's Hideki Matsuyama, the 2021 Masters champion, and Sweden's sixth-ranked Ludwig Aberg, second at April's Masters in his Major debut, were on 208.
Only eight players were under par through 54 holes as DeChambeau had just 10 rivals within the US Open's final-round victory comeback record, Arnold Palmer's 1960 fightback from seven strokes adrift.
DeChambeau, among eight players from Saudi-backed LIV Golf to make the cut, could become the second active LIV player to win a Major after Brooks Koepka at last year's PGA Championship.
A victory would lift DeChambeau into the top 10 in world rankings.
DeChambeau, last month's runner-up at the PGA Championship, could match the record of eight consecutive Major rounds at 69 or lower by breaking par on Sunday, tying Greg Norman from 1993 and Rickie Fowler from 2014.
He downplayed right hip tightness that required on-course treatment but didn't keep him from a late driving range session on Saturday.
"I've had it for a long time now. It's just something that popped up," DeChambeau said.
"I've just been pushing myself a little bit. Consequently, that's going to happen."
The eventual winner in the past 25 US Opens has been within four of the lead entering the final round, which if true this year would narrow the contenders to DeChambeau and his nearest trio of rivals.
Four-time Major winner McIlroy last captured a Major at the 2014 PGA Championship but the 35-year-old from Northern Ireland has finished better at the US Open each of the past five years, including his runner-up showing last year.
"I'm embracing the questions the golf course asks of you," McIlroy said.
"It tests your chipping. It tests your putting. It obviously tests your mental fortitude more than any other golf tournament."
Pavon is trying to become the second Frenchman to win a Major title after Arnaud Massy at the 1907 British Open.
He became the first Frenchman in 117 years to win a PGA Tour event by taking the title at Torrey Pines in January.
Cantlay aims for Paris
Cantlay, also seeking his first Major triumph, could overtake Collin Morikawa for the last US berth at the Paris Olympics, but would need at least a two-way share of second to have a chance.
Aberg, who led after 36 holes before stumbling to a 73 on Saturday, could become the first player to win in his US Open debut since 20-year-old American amateur Francis Ouimet in 1913.
Matsuyama has a chance to become Asia's first male multiple major winner.
He shared second at the 2017 US Open, his best major showing outside Augusta National.
World number one Scottie Scheffler, the huge pre-tournament favorite, began 13 strokes off the pace on Sunday and hasn't broken par in any round.
The American became the first player since Tom Watson in 1980 to win five US PGA Tour titles before the US Open and has 12 top-10 finishes in 13 events this year, including his second victory at the Masters.
- AFP
2024-06-16 16:40:07
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Bryson DeChambeau reeled off five birdies in 10 holes to seize command of the US Open, grabbing a three-stroke lead after Saturday's third round at punishing Pinehurst.
Only eight players were under par after 54 holes as the perils of the 7,548-yard layout took a toll, dome-shaped elevated greens with dirt and weeds waste areas crushing many hopes.
DeChambeau, the 2020 US Open winner and last month's PGA Championship runner-up, made bogey at the fourth, then unleashed his birdie blitz. After a double-bogey at 16, he sank a birdie putt from just inside 12 feet at the par-3 17th and parred 18.
"Amazing. Made a lot of great putts," DeChambeau said. "Pleased with how I struck it for the most part. Got to work on that just a little bit, but I feel pretty confident over the tee shots."
The 30-year-old American, among eight players from Saudi-backed LIV Golf to make the cut, finished with a three-under-par 67 to stand on seven-under 203 after 54 holes.
"Trying to have boring golf," said DeChambeau. "Middle of the greens never moves, so I am going to try and hit a lot of the greens, give myself some good looks on some holes and two-putt a lot."
Four-time major winner Rory McIlroy, trying to snap a 10-year major win drought, and Matthieu Pavon, trying to become the first Frenchman to win a major since 1907, each shot 69 to share second on 206.
Also three adrift was ninth-ranked American Patrick Cantlay, who fired a 70, aided by a 19-foot birdie putt at 17.
Japan's Hideki Matsuyama, the 2021 Masters champion, fired a 70 to share fifth on 208 with Sweden's sixth-ranked Ludvig Aberg, who led after 36 holes before struggling to a 73.
DeChambeau made a six-foot birdie putt at the par-5 fifth, added a 12-foot birdie putt at the seventh, a seven-foot birdie putt at the par-5 10th and a birdie putt from just beyond 13 feet at 11 to leap into the lead.
DeChambeau curled in a nine-foot birdie putt at 14 but stumbled at 16, needing four to reach the green, but answering the double bogey with the birdie at 17.
"When that pressure is on and I execute like I know how I can, there's no better feeling in the world," DeChambeau said.
Northern Ireland's McIlroy, a four-time major winner and last year's US Open runner-up, birdied nine, 12 and 14 to make a charge but found bunkers and made bogeys at the par-3 15th and 17th holes.
"Course is getting crispy," McIlroy said. "Some of the pin positions are pretty tricky. Felt like a lot of them were cut on little crowns. Pretty tricky to get the pace right. It caught me out a couple times."
Pavon, ranked 24th, made three birdies on the front nine but fell back with bogeys at 11 and 16, missing the green on approaches at each.
"The course is really showing its teeth so far. It's a tough one," Pavon said. "That was a pretty nice round."
Not since Arnaud Massy took the 1907 British Open at Royal Liverpool has a Frenchman won a major.
Cantlay has a chance to overtake Collin Morikawa for the last US spot in the Paris Olympics but needs at least a two-way share of second.
"I feel like I'm in a good spot for tomorrow," Cantlay said. "I'm sure it'll be a challenge again."
Aberg, second at the Masters in his major debut, suffered a triple-bogey at the par-4 13th."I didn't feel like I executed the shots the way I wanted," Aberg said. "It's just one of them days."
'Mental torture chamber'
Top-ranked Scottie Scheffler was 13 strokes adrift, the huge pre-event favorite firing a 71 to stand on six-over 216 through 54 holes.
"Another frustrating day," Scheffler said. "I thought I played a lot better than my score. I'm having a lot of trouble reading these greens."
Two-time Masters winner Scheffler was the first player since Tom Watson in 1980 to win five PGA Tour events before the US Open and has 12 top-10 finishes in 13 events this season.
The usually stoic and calm American flipped his putter in the air and slammed down a driver on Friday.
"Golf is a mental torture chamber at times, especially the US Open," said Scheffler.
Scores after Saturday's third round of the 124th US Open at par-70 Pinehurst (a- denotes amateur):
203 - Bryson DeChambeau (USA) 67-69-67
206 - Matthieu Pavon (FRA) 67-70-69, Rory McIlroy (NIR) 65-72-69, Patrick Cantlay (USA) 65-71-70
208 - Hideki Matsuyama (JPN) 72-66-70, Ludvig Aberg (SWE) 66-69-73
209 - Tyrrell Hatton (ENG) 68-71-70, Tony Finau (USA) 68-69-72
210 - Collin Morikawa (USA) 70-74-66, Corey Conners (CAN) 69-70-71, Kim Joo-hyung (KOR) 71-68-71
- AFP
2024-06-15 23:06:17
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Aberg chases US Open debut win while Scheffler struggles
Ludvig Aberg, trying tobecome the first US Open debut winner since 1913, teed off with a one-strokelead in Saturday's third round at Pinehurst, where top-ranked Scottie Schefflerwas 11 strokes adrift.
Sweden's sixth-rankedAberg stood on five-under 135 after 36 holes when he began alongside 2020 USOpen winner Bryson DeChambeau.
After a runner-up effortin last month's PGA Championship, DeChambeau was among eight of 12 startersfrom Saudi-backed LIV Golf who made the cut for the weekend.
Also one stroke off thepace with DeChambeau on four-under were ninth-ranked American Patrick Cantlayand Belgium's Thomas Detry.
And France's MatthieuPavon joined them with a six-foot birdie putt at the first hole.Four-time major winnerRory McIlroy of Northern Ireland was another shot back on three-under withAmerican Tony Finau.
Only 12 players wereunder par for the tournament as the perils of Pinehurst took a toll, with itsdome-shaped elevated greens and dirt and weeds waste areas.
Scheffler, the hottestgolfer entering the week and a huge favourite, fired a one-over 71 to stand onsix-over 216 through 54 holes.
"Another frustratingday," Scheffler said. "I thought I played a lot better than my score.I'm having a lot of trouble reading these greens."
After a bogey at thepar-4 fourth, finding native area left off the tee, Scheffler sank a 17-footbirdie putt at the eighth.
He missed a three-footerfor par to bogey the par-3 ninth but bounced back with a birdie putt from justinside nine feet at 11.
Scheffler, who made thecut on the number at five-over 145, missed a nine-foot par putt to bogey thepar-3 15th and parred in from there.
"Definitely trickypin positions," Scheffler said. "With the way these runoffs are, it'sgoing to be pretty challenging this afternoon."
Scheffler was the firstplayer since Tom Watson in 1980 to win five PGA Tour events before the USOpen, taking the fifth last week at the Memorial, and has 12 top-10 finishes in13 events this season.
The usually stoic andcalm Scheffler, however, could feel the frustration at Pinehurst's uniquechallenge, flipping his putter in the air and letting it fall after one nearmiss on Friday and also slamming down his driver after a woefully errant tee shot.
"Golf is a mentaltorture chamber at times, especially the US Open," said Scheffler, whorefused to call the course borderline unfair.
"When it comes tothe US Open, 'borderline' is such like a trigger word," he said.
The US Open winner takes$4.3 million and the runner-up a hefty $2.32 million from a record $21.5million purse.
But Aberg, runner-up atApril's Masters in his major debut, could carry off a bit of history as well.
Not since 20-year-oldAmerican amateur Francis Ouimet upset Britain's Harry Vardon and Ted Ray at TheCountry Club in his hometown of Brookline, Massachusetts, some 111 years agohas a player won the US Open in his debut.Aberg is the first debutplayer since Taiwan's Chen Tze-chung in 1985 to lead the US Open after 36holes.
Deadly accuracy
The 24-year-old Swede hastriumphs on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour since turning professional a yearago.
A major reason for hislead at punishing Pinehurst is that Aberg leads all players in both drivingaccuracy at 93% and greens in regulation at 83%, mainly avoiding the course'stwo major danger zones.
The best any Swedishplayer has done in a US Open is fourth by Niclas Fasth, Robert Karlson andHenrik Stenson.
Cantlay, in his best spotafter 36 holes in 30 major starts, has a chance to move past Collin Morikawafor the final spot on the US team for the Paris Olympics but needs no worsethan a two-way share of second to do it.
Morikawa fired a 66 onSaturday to stand on level par 210, closing his round with a 25-foot birdieputt and showing contenders low rounds are on offer.
- AFP
2024-06-15 21:42:52
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A reminder of the leaderboard as day 3 gets underway.
2024-06-15 07:14:49
Scores after Friday's second round of the 124th US Open at par-70 Pinehurst (a- denotes amateur):
135 - Ludvig Aberg (SWE) 66-69
136 - Thomas Detry (BEL) 69-67, Patrick Cantlay (USA) 65-71, Bryson DeChambeau (USA) 67-69
137 - Tony Finau (USA) 68-69, Matthieu Pavon (FRA) 67-70, Rory McIlroy (NIR) 65-72
138 - Hideki Matsuyama (JPN) 72-66
139 - Kim Joo-hyung Kim (KOR) 71-68, Tim Widing (SWE) 71-68, Corey Conners (CAN) 69-70, Tyrrell Hatton (ENG) 68-71, Zac Blair (USA) 70-69, Xander Schauffele (USA) 70-69, Akshay Bhatia (USA) 68-71
140 - Billy Horschel (USA) 73-67, Russell Henley (USA) 70-70, Sam Burns (USA) 73-67, Stephan Jger (GER) 70-70, Sergio Garcia (ESP) 69-71
141 - Nicolai Hoejgaard (DEN) 72-69, Taylor Pendrith (CAN) 71-70, Nicols Echavarra (COL) 72-69, Kim Seong-hyeon (KOR) 69-72, Frankie Capan (USA) 71-70, Sam Bennett (USA) 69-72
142 - Brian Harman (USA) 71-71, Chris Kirk (USA) 71-71, Denny McCarthy (USA) 75-67, Isaiah Salinda (USA) 70-72, Davis Thompson (USA) 70-72, Jackson Suber (USA) 69-73, Emiliano Grillo (ARG) 70-72, Sepp Straka (AUT) 70-72, Adam Scott (AUS) 70-72, Min Woo Lee (AUS) 73-69
143 - Cameron Smith (AUS) 71-72, Adam Svensson (CAN) 73-70, Martin Kaymer (GER) 70-73, Kim Si-woo (KOR) 71-72, Christiaan Bezuidenhout (RSA) 72-71, Aaron Rai (ENG) 69-74, Matt Kuchar (USA) 72-71, Jordan Spieth (USA) 72-71, Harris English (USA) 70-73, Mark Hubbard (USA) 74-69, Daniel Berger (USA) 73-70, Brian Campbell (USA) 73-70, a-Neal Shipley (USA) 70-73, a-Gunnar Broin (USA) 75-68
144 - Keegan Bradley (USA) 74-70, Collin Morikawa (USA) 70-74, JT Poston (USA) 73-71, Wyndham Clark (USA) 73-71, Austin Eckroat (USA) 72-72, David Puig (ESP) 76-68
145 - Francesco Molinari (ITA) 73-72, Dean Burmester (RSA) 74-71, Ryan Fox (NZL) 73-72, Shane Lowry (IRL) 74-71, Tommy Fleetwood (ENG) 70-75, Matthew Fitzpatrick (ENG) 73-72, Tom McKibbin (NIR) 74-71, Brendon Todd (USA) 74-71, Brooks Koepka (USA) 70-75, Ben Kohles (USA) 77-68, Max Greyserman (USA) 71-74, Justin Lower (USA) 72-73, Scottie Scheffler (USA) 71-74, Sahith Theegala (USA) 77-68, Greyson Sigg (USA) 76-69, Brandon Wu (USA) 74-71, Cameron Young (USA) 73-72, a-Luke Clanton (USA) 76-69
Missed the Cut
146 - Max Homa (USA) 71-75, Eric Cole (USA) 73-73, Nick Dunlap (USA) 73-73, a-Benjamin James (USA) 75-71, a-Jackson Buchanan (USA) 76-70, a-Bryan Kim (USA) 72-74, Robert MacIntyre (SCO) 70-76, Justin Rose (ENG) 73-73, Brandon Robinson-Thompson (ENG) 72-74, Viktor Hovland (NOR) 78-68, Taisei Shimizu (JPN) 71-75, Frederik Kjettrup (DEN) 72-74, Jason Scrivener (AUS) 74-72
147 - Adam Hadwin (CAN) 74-73, Seamus Power (IRL) 71-76, a-Omar Morales (MEX) 73-74, Rico Hoey (PHI) 77-70, Tiger Woods (USA) 74-73, Peter Malnati (USA) 74-73, Kurt Kitayama (USA) 73-74, a-Parker Bell (USA) 77-70
148 - Webb Simpson (USA) 75-73, Rickie Fowler (USA) 71-77, Tom Hoge (USA) 75-73, Chesson Hadley (USA) 75-73, Will Zalatoris (USA) 75-73, Taylor Moore (USA) 76-72, Richard Mansell (ENG) 78-70, Erik Van Rooyen (RSA) 76-72, Alexander Norn (SWE) 73-75, Ryo Ishikawa (JPN) 76-72, Eugenio Lpez-Chacarra (ESP) 75-73, Nick Taylor (CAN) 74-74, Jason Day (AUS) 71-77
149 - Cameron Davis (AUS) 77-72, Victor Perez (FRA) 75-74, Kang Sung-hoon (KOR) 74-75, Robert Rock (ENG) 70-79, a-Hiroshi Tai (SGA) 75-74, Dustin Johnson (USA) 74-75, Mac Meissner (USA) 72-77, Logan McAllister (USA) 70-79, Joey Vrzich (USA) 76-73, Christopher Petefish (USA) 77-72, Edoardo Molinari (ITA) 72-77
150 - Gary Woodland (USA) 72-78, Beau Hossler (USA) 74-76, Im Sung-jae (KOR) 74-76, Takumi Kanaya (JPN) 76-74, a-Ashton McCulloch (CAN) 75-75
151 - Casey Jarvis (RSA) 73-78, Sam Bairstow (ENG) 84-67, Andrew Svoboda (USA) 75-76, Justin Thomas (USA) 77-74, Carter Jenkins (USA) 73-78, Adam Schenk (USA) 79-72, Harry Higgs (USA) 76-75, Willie Mack III (USA) 71-80, a-Gordon Sargent (USA) 73-78, a-Brendan Valdes (USA) 76-75, Michael McGowan (USA) 77-74, a-Wells Williams (USA) 75-76
152 - Jake Knapp (USA) 75-77, Adrian Meronk (POL) 76-76, An Byeong-hun (KOR) 74-78
153 - a-Santiago De La Fuente (MEX) 78-75, Grant Forrest (SCO) 77-76, Lucas Glover (USA) 74-79, Jim Herman (USA) 74-79, John Chin (USA) 75-78
154 - a-Stewart Hagestad (USA) 79-75, Maxwell Moldovan (USA) 80-74, Mackenzie Hughes (CAN) 72-82, Matteo Manassero (ITA) 79-75
155 - Phil Mickelson (USA) 79-76, Chris Naegel (USA) 81-74, Carson Schaake (USA) 79-76
157 - a-Colin Prater (USA) 79-78
159 - Otto Black (USA) 79-80, Rikuya Hoshino (JPN) 78-81, Riki Kawamoto (JPN) 77-82
160 - Charles Reiter (USA) 80-80
2024-06-15 06:42:50
Aberg grinds to one-stroke US Open lead as Scheffler struggles
Sweden's Ludwig Aberg grinded his way to a one-stroke lead after Friday's second round of the US Open while top-ranked Scottie Scheffler and other favorites struggled at punishing Pinehurst.
Sixth-ranked Aberg, a runner-up at April's Masters in his major debut, fired a one-under-par 69 to finish 36 holes on five-under 135.
"I hit it very nicely," Aberg said. "It was obviously very challenging, and it's not an easy golf course to play. But I felt like we stayed very disciplined, stayed very patient, and tried to hit it to our targets."
He had been sharing the lead with France's Matthieu Pavon, but the back-nine starter closed his round with bogeys at eight and the par-3 ninth to shoot 70 and share fifth.
"Super fortunate with the way that things have turned out over the last couple days, and hopefully we'll be able to keep it up," Aberg said.
One adrift in second were 2020 US Open winner Bryson DeChambeau, fellow American Patrick Cantlay and Belgium's Thomas Detry.
Four-time major winner Rory McIlroy, seeking his first major triumph in 10 years, shot 72 to share fifth with American Tony Finau and 24th-ranked Pavon on 137 and Japan's Hideki Matsuyama, the 2021 Masters champion, was eighth on 138 after a bogey-free 66.
Pre-tournament favorite Scheffler made the cut on the number at five-over 145 after shooting 74 in the first birdie-less major round of his career.
The two-time Masters champion was undone by bogeys at the par-3 15th and 17th and a double bogey at the par-5 fifth.
"It was definitely a grind," said Scheffler.
"I'm proud of how I fought. I gave myself a good chance. Today I just couldn't get the putts to fall.
"This golf course can be unpredictable at times, and maybe it got the better of me the last couple days."
Aberg, 24, sank a 30-foot birdie putt at the second hole and an 11-footer to birdie the par-5 fifth to grab the lead.
He answered a bogey at eight with a birdie at 12 but found a greenside bunker at 16 for another bogey only to have Pavon stumble late.
Pavon won in January at Torrey Pines to become the first Frenchman since 1907 to win a US PGA Tour event. He said his winning would boost French golf.
"It would mean everything. It would be huge," Pavon said.
"Having someone capable to lift the trophy like that would be pretty big for me and my country."
DeChambeau made five birdies and four bogeys with a tap-in birdie at 18 keeping him solidly in the hunt.
"Was very happy with how I stayed patient, gave myself good opportunities when they mattered, and I made a lot of clutch putts coming in," DeChambeau said.
Detry, ranked 55th, matched his PGA Tour best finish with a runner-up effort in March's Houston Open.
The 31-year-old Belgian had his best major finish last month with a share of fourth at the PGA Championship.
"My confidence is good. My play is good. I feel mentally stable as well," Detry said.
"I think it's going to be a fun challenge."
Cantlay shared the 18-hole lead with McIlroy after a 65.
"Was a lot firmer than yesterday," Cantlay said. "It's going to be a challenge the rest of the weekend."
Tiger misses cut
McIlroy closed with a bogey at the ninth. He also had bogeys at 11 and the par-3 15th against a lone birdie at the third.
"Had to have your wits about you," McIlroy said.
"I wish I had converted a couple more of the chances. Still overall in a great position going into the weekend.
"The four-time major winner from Northern Ireland played alongside Scheffler and second-ranked Xander Schauffele, who won last month's PGA Championship.
Schauffele was four off the lead after shooting 69 to stand on 139.
Matsuyama hopes to sustain his momentum.
"I was playing really great," he said through a translator.
"My short game was on point. That really helped. Hopefully I can keep that momentum through the weekend."
Tiger Woods, a 15-time major winner, missed the cut on 147 after a 73 on Friday.
"Probably the highest score I could have shot today," Woods said.
"Frustrating I'm not here for the weekend."
Others missing the cut included fifth-ranked Viktor Hovland and 10th-ranked Max Homa.
- AFP
2024-06-14 23:01:27
Sweden's Aberg grabs US Open lead as rivals falter
Sweden's Ludvig Aberg, making only his third major start, seized a one-stroke lead in Friday's second round of the US Open as rivals including world number one Scottie Scheffler stumbled at formidable Pinehurst.
World number six Aberg, a runner-up in April's Masters in his major debut, stood on five-under par after 10 holes. He fired a four-under 66 on Thursday.
Aberg, 24, sank a 30-foot birdie putt at the par-4 second hole and an 11-footer for birdie at the par-5 fifth to grab the lead alone at 6-under, but found dirt and weeds left off the eighth tee and made bogey.
A pack on four-under included Belgium's Thomas Detry, who shot 67 to reach the clubhouse on 136 with Bryson DeChambeau, the 2020 US Open winner and runner-up in last month's PGA Championship who fired a 69.
At four-under still on the course were ninth-ranked Patrick Cantlay, an American who shot a 65 to share the 18-hole lead with Rory McIlroy, and France's Matthieu Pavon, like Cantlay seeking his first major crown.
World number three McIlroy stood sixth on 137 after struggling to a 74 while Japan's Hideki Matsuyama, the 2021 Masters champion, was another stroke back on 138 after a bogey-free 66.
But pre-Open favorite Scheffler meanwhile was in real danger of missing the cut after carding a 74 to stand on five-over 145.
Meanwhile DeChambeau, among 12 players from Saudi-backed LIV Golf in the field, made five birdies and four bogeys, with a tap-in birdie at 18 keeping him solidly in the hunt.
"Was very happy with how I stayed patient, gave myself good opportunities when they mattered, and I made a lot of clutch putts coming in," DeChambeau said.
"If the wind picks up, it's going to be diabolical."
Detry, ranked 55th, matched his PGA Tour best finish with a runner-up effort in March's Houston Open.
The 31-year-old Belgian had his best major finish last month with a share of fourth at the PGA Championship.
The back-nine Friday starter birdied three consecutive holes before a bogey at 14, then birdied the first, third and fifth holes to grab the lead only to bogey the sixth and eighth to shoot 67 and share third.
"My confidence is good. My play is good. I feel mentally stable as well," Detry said. "I think I've got all my chances. I think it's going to be a fun challenge."
McIlroy, chasing his first major win in 10 years, closed with a bogey at the ninth. He also had bogeys at 11 and the par-3 15th against a lone birdie at the third.
"Had to have your wits about you," McIlroy said.
"I wish I had converted a couple more of the chances.
"Still overall in a great position going into the weekend."
The four-time major winner from Northern Ireland played alongside top-ranked Scottie Scheffler and second-ranked Xander Schauffele.
At the par-5 fifth, where Scheffler and Schauffele each made double bogeys, McIlroy made a nine-foot par save putt.
Pre-tournament favorite Scheffler was left sweating on whether he would advance to the weekend rounds after his 74. It was the first birdie-less major round of Scheffler's career, the two-time Masters champion undone by bogeys at the par-3 15th and 17th plus his double.
"It was definitely a grind," said Scheffler. "I'm proud of how I fought. I gave myself a good chance. Today I just couldn't get the putts to fall.
"This golf course can be unpredictable at times, and maybe it got the better of me the last couple days."
Schauffele, who won last month's PGA Championship, was four off the lead after shooting 69 to stand on 139 in a share of 10th.
Matsuyama hopes to sustain his momentum."I was playing really great," he said through a translator. "My short game was on point. That really helped.
Hopefully I can keep that momentum through the weekend."
- AFP
2024-06-14 22:25:29
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Straka strikes with ace at par-3 ninth at US Open
Austrian Sepp Straka made a hole-in-one at the par-3 ninth hole at Pinehurst on Friday in the second round of the 124th US Open.
The 31-year-old blasted his tee shot at the 194-yard hole and it bounced onto the green then rolled into the hole.
Straka celebrated the shot with hugs and high-fives with his caddie, Duane Bock, and his playing partners in the group, Americans JT Poston and Peter Malnati.
Straka's ace lifted him to two-over par for the round and the tournament after he fired a level par 70 on Thursday.
He had already made a triple bogey at the par-4 third and sandwiched a birdie at the par-5 fifth between two bogeys earlier on the front nine.
Straka had his best major finish last year when he shared second at the British Open.
Straka has won two career US PGA Tour titles, taking the 2022 Honda Classic and 2023 John Deere Classic.
- AFP
2024-06-14 16:49:45
McIlroy stumbles while Detry, Hatton charge at US Open
Rory McIlroy, chasing his first major triumph in 10 years, stumbled from a share of the lead with two bogeys early in Friday's second round of the US Open at Pinehurst.
McIlroy fired a bogey-free opening five-under par 65 on Thursday to share the 18-hole lead with ninth-ranked Patrick Cantlay, an American seeking his first major title who tees off in the afternoon.
Third-ranked McIlroy, a back-nine morning starter Friday, missed a birdie putt from just inside 12 feet at the par-5 10th and lipped out on a six-foot par putt to make bogey at 11 and fall one off the lead.
McIlroy missed an 11-foot birdie putt at 14 and at the par-3 15th, his tee shot rolled off the front of the green, setting up a 10-foot par putt miss that brought another bogey.
At the par-3 17th, McIlroy rolled in a clutch par putt from just inside 40 feet and at 18, he found sandy brush off the tee but salvaged par to make the turn on 3-under.
Not all struggled on the dome-shaped elevated greens surrounded by dirt and weeds.
Belgium's Thomas Detry, a back-nine starter, made his own early move to share second at 4-under with birdies from just beyond 17 feet at 11, 13 feet at 12 and 16 feet at 13.
Also on 4-under was sixth-ranked Swede Ludvig Aberg, who was second at April's Masters in his major debut.
England's Tyrrell Hatton moved to 3-under, two back of Cantlay, with two birdies. After a three-putt bogey at the first, Hatton birdied the par-5 fifth, reaching the green in two to set up a tap-in putt, and par-4 seventh, where he sank a six-foot putt.
Also sharing fourth on 3-under with McIlroy and Hatton was France's Matthieu Pavon, a late starter.McIlroy, trying to win an elusive fifth career major, played alongside top-ranked Scottie Scheffler and second-ranked Xander Schauffele, both with major titles this year.
Schauffele was on one-under overall at the turn after a birdie at 18 while Scheffler made bogeys at 15 and 17 to stand 3-over.McIlroy, a 35-year-old from Northern Ireland, has won the past three times he began a major with a bogey-free round, taking titles at the 2014 British Open, 2012 PGA Championship and 2011 US Open.It was his sixth opening round of 65 or lower at a major.
Should McIlroy collect his first major title since the 2014 PGA Championship this week, it would mark the longest gap between wins for any player in US Open history, his 13 years breaking the record 11 shared by Julius Boros and Hale Irwin.McIlroy has 20 top-10 major finishes without a win over the past decade.
McIlroy has finished in the top-10 in his past five US Open starts, improving his position each year up to last year's runner-up showing behind fourth-ranked American Wyndham Clark.
Cantlay produced his best major start and led a major round for the first time in his career. His best major result was third at the 2019 PGA Championship.
- AFP
2024-06-14 16:29:51
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2024-06-14 06:58:53
McIlroy fires bogey-free 65 to share US Open lead with Cantlay
Rory McIlroy sank a birdie putt from just inside 20 feet at the 18th hole to complete a five-under-par 65 first round and match Patrick Cantlay for the lead at the US Open on Thursday.
World number three McIlroy, chasing his first major victory since the 2014 PGA Championship, delivered a bogey-free round at Pinehurst, defying its dome-shaped greens, sandy waste areas and wiregrass.
"I'm delighted with the start," McIlroy said. "As the week goes on the golf course is going to get a bit faster and a bit firey, but right now, there's opportunities out there and thankfully I was able to take advantage of them.
"I think more so this championship than the others, getting off to a good start is really important to try to keep yourself up there. Because you need to give yourself as much of a cushion as possible knowing what's lurking around the corner."
America's ninth-ranked Cantlay, a back-nine starter, birdied three of his last five holes for an early 65 and with McIlroy took a one-stroke lead over Sweden's sixth-ranked Ludvig Aberg, Masters runner-up in his major debut, with France's Matthieu Pavon and American Bryson DeChambeau sharing fourth on 67.
"It's the US Open. It's supposed to be hard," Aberg said. "That's what we're doing here."
McIlroy, a 35-year-old from Northern Ireland, sank a seven-foot birdie putt at the fourth hole then chipped in brilliantly from just off the green for a birdie at the par-5 fifth.
The four-time major winner added a birdie putt from just inside seven feet at the par-5 10th then birdied two of the last three holes, sinking an 11-footer at the par-4 16th and then his tension-packed putt at 18.
Scheffler one over; Woods struggles
"I think the one thing we got a little lucky with today was the cloud cover, so the golf course didn't get as fiery as I expected," McIlroy said.
"The nice thing is to go out there and take advantage of the conditions and get back out in the morning and try to keep the momentum going."
McIlroy was second in last year's US Open, his fifth top-10 effort in a row at the US Open with each better than the last.
An afternoon feature group with the world's three top players was dominated by McIlroy, with world number one Scottie Scheffler, the Masters champion, firing a 71 and second-ranked Xander Schauffele, who won last month's PGA Championship, on 70.
Scheffler has five PGA Tour wins this year, the most by any player at this stage since Tom Watson in 1980.
Schauffele snapped a two-year win drought last month with his first major triumph.
Cantlay, seeking his first major triumph, and McIlroy matched the low US Open rounds at Pinehurst, two 65s by Martin Kaymer on his way to victory in 2014.
"Played pretty solid most of the way," Cantlay said. "The golf course played pretty difficult. But drove it well. Lot of balls on the fairways. Left the ball in the right spots, for the most part."
Cantlay, the 2021 PGA Tour playoff champion, is a contender for a US berth at the Paris Olympics but must finish no worse than second this week to have a chance.
Aberg sank a six-foot birdie putt at the par-3 ninth to finish on 66 with six birdies and two bogeys.
"Very nice round of golf," Aberg said.
"Not a lot to complain about."
DeChambeau, last month's PGA Championship runner-up and the 2020 US Open champion, had four birdies and a bogey, holing out for birdie from 52 feet at 18.
"From a mental exhaustion perspective, this was probably the most difficult that I've had in a long time," DeChambeau said.
Pavon, ranked 24th, soared with eagles at the par-5 fifth on an 18-foot putt and on a 27-foot putt at the par-5 10th hole.
"I made my four best swings of the day on the par-5s and dropped two putts," Pavon said. "It gave me a little bit of freedom."
Five-time major winner Brooks Koepka and seventh-ranked Collin Morikawa, a two-time major winner, were among those on 70.
Tiger Woods, a 15-time major winner, struggled to a 74. He had five bogeys in a seven-hole stretch starting at the 16th after teeing off on the back nine.
- AFP
2024-06-13 22:12:16
2024-06-13 21:03:27
More major struggles for Tiger after 74 to start US Open
The care Tiger Woods takes to improve his physical condition means the 15-time major winner isn't playing often enough to sharpen his game when he does compete in majors.
Woods has not been the same since suffering severe leg injuries in a 2021 car crash, and while his surgically repaired back and legs can better handle walking 72 holes, he can't find the form that made him an iconic champion.
"I wasn't as sharp as I needed to be," Woods said after firing a four-over par 74 to stand well off the first-round lead in the 124th US Open at Pinehurst.
"I'm physically getting better as the year has gone on. I just haven't been able to play as much because I just don't want to hurt myself pre, then I won't be able to play in the major championships.
"It's pick your poison, right? Play a lot with the potential of not playing, or not playing and fight being not as sharp."
At 48, Woods continues to draw huge crowds, but struggles to improve his game, hitting two birdies against six bogeys in the opening round.
"I didn't hit my irons particularly well. Didn't putt that great," Woods said.
"Drove it on the string all day. Unfortunately I just didn't capitalize on it.
"I was somewhat conservative in some of my end points. Then again, I didn't hit the ball very well either. It added up to quite a bit of distance away from the flag. It's not where I wanted to be on a lot of the holes."
Woods, who won his most recent major at the 2019 Masters, has undergone surgery on his back, knees and legs to be able to continue his career. Recreating the magic is another thing altogether.
"I'd like to hit a few putts. My speed was not quite there," he said.
"I 3-putted, two or three times. If I clean that up, if I get a couple iron shots not as loose as I did, I'm right there at even par.
"It's just so hard to get back. This is a golf course that doesn't give up a whole lot of birdies.
"I did the one thing I needed to do, which is drive the ball well. I just didn't capitalize on any of it."
Woods doesn't see any easing in Pinehurst's tricky domed greens, where a near miss can send a ball rolling down a long slope.
"This golf course is all about the greens. The complexes are just so difficult and so severe," he said.
"It's hard to get the ball close. It's just hard to get the ball on top of the shelves.
"Being aggressive to a conservative line is how you need to play this particular golf course."
- AFP
2024-06-13 20:05:38
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American Cantlay grabs early US Open lead with 65
Ninth-ranked American Patrick Cantlay birdied three of his last five holes to seize a one-stroke lead early in Thursday's US Open first round as the world's three top-ranked players teed off at Pinehurst.
Cantlay, seeking his first major triumph, fired a five-under par 65, making six birdies against a lone bogey to leap atop the leaderboard.
Sweden's sixth-ranked Ludvig Aberg, runner-up at April's Masters in his major debut, sank a six-foot birdie putt at the par-3 ninth to finish a four-under 66 to grab second.
France's Matthieu Pavon fired 67 to stand third while American Tony Finau closed with a bogey at the ninth to settle for fourth on 68.
As they finished, top-ranked Scottie Scheffler, world number two Xander Schauffele and third-ranked Rory McIlroy set off to test a 7,543-yard sandhills layout with domed greens, sandy waste areas and wiregrass.
Cantlay, the 2021 PGA Tour playoff champion, has a best major showing of sharing third at the 2019 PGA Championship at Bethpage.
He's also a contender for a US berth at the Paris Olympics but needs to finish no worse than second this week to have a chance.
The star group features Scheffler, considered the man to beat with five US PGA Tour victories this year, the most by any player at this stage since Tom Watson in 1980.
Two-time Masters champion Scheffler has 12 top-10 showings in 13 starts this year and could match 15-time major winner Woods as the only players to win a US Open while atop the world rankings.
Schauffele won last month's PGA Championship for his first major title, snapping a two-year win drought.McIlroy has five consecutive top-10 finishes at the US Open, improving every year in the run to place second in 2023.
Cantlay, a back-nine starter, blasted 35 feet out of a bunker to birdie 11, missed the green to bogey the par-3 15th, birdied 18 from just beyond 17 feet and sank a five-foot birdie putt at the first hole.
The 32-year-old American grabbed a share of the lead with a tap-in birdie at the par-5 fifth and a 20-foot birdie putt at the par-3 sixth, then seized the outright edge by landing his approach at the eighth green four feet from the hole and making the birdie putt.
Aberg began on the back nine and birdied the par-4 11th and 12th holes with birdie putts of just inside 19 feet and 32 feet respectively. After a bogey at 14, he birdied the 18th and first holes from about four feet.
After a tap-in birdie at five, he missed the green with his approach to bogey six but took second with his closing birdie.
World number 24 Pavon soared on eagles' wings.
The 31-year-old Frenchman sank an 18-foot eagle putt at the par-5 fifth, a birdie putt from just inside 38 feet at the par-4 eighth and a 27-foot eagle putt at the par-5 10th to seize the lead.
He made a bogey at 11 after finding a bunker with his approach, saved par at 12 with a putt from just inside 14 feet and saved par again at 14 from just over 23 feet.
In January, he became the first Frenchman to win a US PGA Tour event since 1907 with a triumph at Torrey Pines.
Finau began on the back nine, opening and closing it with birdies, and answered a bogey at the second with birdies at the fifth and seventh holes
Five-time major winner Brooks Koepka, chasing a third US Open title after wins in 2017 and 2018, and seventh-ranked Collin Morikawa, a two-time major winner, were among those on 70.
Morikawa shared third at the Masters in April and fourth at last month's PGA Championship. He was runner-up to Scheffler at last week's Memorial tournament.
Morikawa owns the final US berth for the Paris Olympics behind Scheffler, Schauffele and defending US Open champion Wyndham Clark.
Tiger Woods, a 15-time major winner struggling to overcome severe leg injuries from a 2021 car crash, struggled to a 74. He opened with a birdie at 10 but had five bogeys in a seven-hole stretch starting at 16.
- AFP
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Aberg grabs early lead with Tiger one back at US Open
Tiger Woods was among a host of contenders chasing sixth-ranked Ludvig Aberg, who grabbed the early US Open lead with two morning birdies on Thursday at Pinehurst.
Sweden's Aberg, runner-up at April's Masters in his major debut, began on the back nine and birdied the par-4 11th and 12th holes to move atop the leaderboard.
Aberg sank birdie putts from just inside 19 feet at 11 and from 32 feet at 12 to jump into the lead.Woods, a 15-time major winner struggling to overcome severe leg injuries from a 2021 car crash, started on the back nine with a birdie at the par-5 10th, sinking a putt from just inside 12 feet.
Woods added a 10-foot par putt at the 12th and another from just inside nine feet at 13 to stay in a pack at 1-under, but missed an 11-foot birdie putt at 14 to grab a share of the lead.
Also charging early was Logan McAllister, a 24-year-old American who began in the first group. He made an eagle at the par-5 fifth to seize the lead briefly, only to fall back with a bogey at the eighth.
World number 459 McAllister, who missed the cut in his only PGA Tour start at the 2022 Texas Open, reached the green in two from dirt left of the fifth fairway, then sank a seven-foot eagle putt.
Others on 1-under early included ninth-ranked Patrick Cantlay, fellow American Tony Finau, Sweden's Tim Widing and South African Casey Jarvis.
The formidable 7,543-yard sandhills layout tested players with lightning-fast elevated domed greens, sandy waste areas and native wiregrass.
Among 468 players in three prior US Opens at Pinehurst, only four broke par for 72 holes and just one, 2014 champion Martin Kaymer of Germany, finished better than one-under, winning by eight strokes on nine-under.
World number one Scottie Scheffler, second-ranked Xander Schauffele and third-ranked Rory McIlroy tee off together in the afternoon feature group.
Scheffler is considered the man to beat with five US PGA Tour victories this year, the most by any player at this stage since Tom Watson in 1980.
Two-time Masters champion Scheffler has 12 top-10 showings in 13 starts this year and could match 15-time major winner Woods as the only players to win a US Open while atop the world rankings.
Schauffele won last month's PGA Championship for his first major title, snapping a two-year win drought.
McIlroy has five consecutive top-10 finishes at the US Open, improving every year in the run to place second in 2023.
Seventh-ranked Collin Morikawa, a two-time major winner, was 1-over after a bogey at the fourth hole.
Morikawa shared third at the Masters in April and fourth at last month's PGA Championship. He was runner-up to Scheffler at last week's Memorial tournament.
With Monday's qualifying deadline looming, Morikawa is clinging to the fourth and final US berth for the Paris Olympics behind Scheffler, Schauffele and defending US Open champion Wyndham Clark.
Six Americans can overtake him, but five of them need a victory to do it.
- AFP
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Tiger, Morikawa among early starters as US Open begins
TigerWoods, Collin Morikawa, Brooks Koepka and Sweden's sixth-ranked Ludvig Abergwere among those set for a morning charge as the 124th US Open began Thursdayat treacherous Pinehurst.
The 7 543-yard sandhills layout with its domed greens, sandywaste areas, native bushes and wiregrass was set to offer a formidablechallenge to a field of 156 golfers.
American Michael McGowan and Filipino Rico Hoey hit openingshots off the first and 10th tees, respectively, to begin the 1 000thchampionship event in US Golf Association history, dating to the first US Openin 1895.
World number one Scottie Scheffler, second-ranked XanderSchauffele and third-ranked Rory McIlroy tee off together in the afternoonfeature group.
Scheffler is considered the man to beat with five US PGA Tourvictories this year, the most by any player at this stage since Tom Watson in1980.
Two-time Masters champion Scheffler has 12 top-10 showings in 13starts this year and could match 15-time major winner Woods as the only playersto win a US Open while atop the world rankings.
Schauffele won last month's PGA Championship for his first majortitle, snapping a two-year win drought.
McIlroy, who has called off his divorce plans, has fiveconsecutive top-10 finishes at the US Open, improving every year in the run tofinish second in 2023.
Woods, battling back from severe leg injuries in a 2021 carcrash, was set to start in the fifth group off the 10th tee alongside England'sMatt Fitzpatrick, the 2022 US Open winner, and American Will Zalatoris.
Seventh-ranked Morikawa, a two-time major winner, is in thesixth group off the first tee alongside fellow Americans Koepka, a five-timemajor winner, and Justin Thomas.
Morikawa shared third at the Masters in April and fourth at lastmonth's PGA Championship. He was runner-up to Scheffler at last week's Memorialtournament.
With Monday's qualifying deadline looming, Morikawa is clingingto the fourth and final US berth for the Paris Olympics behind Scheffler,Schauffele and defending US Open champion Wyndham Clark.
Six Americans can overtake him, but five of them need a victoryto do it.Aberg, runner-up in this year's Masters in his major debut,starts off the 10th tee alongside Americans Tony Finau and Dustin Johnson.
Johnson is among 12 LIV Golf players in the field after Spain'seighth-ranked Jon Rahm, a two-time major champion, withdrew due to a left footinjury.
Among 468 players in three prior US Opens at Pinehurst, onlyfour broke par for 72 holes and just one, 2014 champion Martin Kaymer ofGermany, finished better than one-under, winning by eight strokes onnine-under.
"It's a brutally hard golf course," said 2012 US Openwinner Webb Simpson, another early starter. "It's very long and there's nolet up. You have to be incredibly disciplined."
- AFP
2024-06-13 12:34:58The 124th US Open Championship tees off at Pinehurst Resort with four South African golfers taking part in the year's third Major.Read more2024-06-13 12:34:35
Welcome to News24's coverage of the US Open Championship at Pinehurst.
Four South African golfers are in the elite 156-man field.
