U.S. Open: Francesco Molinari makes inconceivable ace, makes cut u,s,open,francesco,molinari,makes,inconceivable,ace,makes,cut,sbnation,com,golf,us-open-golf,golf-majors,golf-pga-tour,golf-news


Francesco Molinari stood on the par-4 9th hole—his 18th of the day—at 7-over par. With the cut-line sitting at 5-over, he needed a hole-in-one to make the cut on the number.

The request was impossible, and yet Molinari delivered the improbable. He made an ace with a 7-iron, thus earning a third-round tee time at the U.S. Open for the first time since 2021.

“I think from where we were standing, it looked like it just carried the bunker, plus the greens are getting firm, so it was the ideal shot,” Molinari explained after.

“Then it started tracking, was going to break left to right at the hole, and we were joking with Sergio Garcia about how it looked and on a great line the whole way, but what are the chances really. I don’t even know what to say. Just incredible.”

Molinari struggled to process what had transpired after his 2-over 72.

“I just bogeyed 8. I was hoping I could par the 8th and then have to make two at 9,” Molinari said.

“With that flag, if you hit a good shot, you can get it within birdie range, but when I dropped a shot at 8, and then yes, standing on the 9th tee, it was just put a good swing on it and see what happens. But the chances are incredibly small, so I don’t know what to say.”

Molinari has had his fair share of incredible hole-in-ones.

He aced the 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale one year. He also made a hole-in-one at Bay Hill, when he won there in 2019, per golf statistician Justin Ray.

But on Friday, he made the greatest ace of his life—when he needed it most.

“It was the last chance to have a chance to play the weekend,” Molinari added.

“That’s golf in a nutshell.”

Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough for more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.

U.S. Open: 5 best outfits we love at Pinehurst No. 2 u,s,open,best,outfits,we,love,at,pinehurst,no,sbnation,com,golf,us-open-golf,golf-majors,golf-pga-tour,golf-opinions

US Open 5 best outfits we love at Pinehurst No 2


One of the emerging niches in professional golf is fashion. What these PGA Tour and LIV Golf players wear continues to spark intense discussions on social media.

Fashion is a subjective topic with no right answer. Many dislike what Jason Day and Viktor Hovland wear, but many fans love their trendy style. Those two guys take bigger risks, but many tour players look good in traditional-style garments.

How it fits on the body is a main component of a good outfit. Other things we looked at when ranking are coloring, attention to detail, and risk level.

This week, the best players in the world are at Pinehurst No. 2 for the 124th U.S. Open.

Major championships are also a great time to unveil new lines or do something wild, which many golfers choose to do.

Thursday and Friday showed some great outfits from the field, but these are the five best we saw from the players.

5. Tiger Woods

Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

Tiger Woods is fifth on this list for his Thursday outfit. That pink and white striped polo is one of the best he has worn since his new clothing line, Sun Day Red, launched. Pairing it with a gray pant pulls it together. White shoes and hats are a great way to keep a summer vibe, and the Big Cat pulled this look off well.

His navy look on Friday was sharp as well. He gives such a traditional vibe, but at the same time, it looks trendy.

Ranking: 9/10

4. Viktor Hovland

U.S. Open, Viktor Hovland, PGA Tour

Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images

Viktor Hovland is one of many players who got chewed up and spit out by Pinehurst No. 2, but his Thursday outfit was perfect.

What a cool geometric polo! The navy matches the shoes and stripes. A white hat keeps the focus on the polo, as it should. Not to mention, the bottom of the Puma shoes matches the lighter blue on his shirt, which completes the look.

He will not likely be around for the weekend, but this pairing was so good it would have been a crime not to put on this list.

Ranking: 9/10

3. Harris English

U.S. Open, Harris English

Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images

A name that does not usually land on the golf fashion pages earned his spot at the U.S. Open. Harris English’s Thursday and Friday and looks were good enough to land on the list, but the green pants with the light blue striped polo have such a cool vibe.

He is finally incorporating color into his wardrobe, which looks fantastic. Those green pants are incredible.

Rating: 9.5/10

2. Ludvig Åberg

U.S. Open, Ludvig Åberg, PGA Tour

Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images

Some may not like this rating, with Ludvig Åberg in second on this list, but he gave two days of clean outfits. The peach polo with the navy pants on Friday was our favorite because it’s a great color combo.

White hats seem on trend this week, but the blue rope pulls it all together. It is traditional but fits well and looks fantastic on his skin tone.

Rating: 9.8/10

1. Bryson DeChambeau

U.S. Open, Bryson DeChambeau, LIV Golf

Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images

Bryson DeChambeau has had the best outfits so far at the U.S. Open. His navy polo with gray pants is fantastic, and his Crusher GC logo did not overtake the outfit, either.

Since he went to LIV Golf, DeChambeau’s fashion has elevated to another level. Friday’s polo, with the navy and white stripes, also looked great. He has clearly gotten his color chart done because all of the clothes he wears are ideal for his skin tone.

Will a LIV Golf player take home the best dressed of the week on Sunday, or will one of the PGA Tour guys shock the fashion lovers this weekend?

Rating: 10/10

Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. For more golf coverage, be sure to follow us @_PlayingThrough on all major social platforms. You can also follow her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.

Rory McIlroy can’t convert chances in U.S. Open pursuit rory,mcilroy,can,t,convert,chances,in,u,s,open,pursuit,sbnation,com,golf,us-open-golf,golf-majors,golf-pga-tour,golf-news


When Rory McIlroy prematurely walked in his final birdie of the day on Thursday evening, the talk of the golf world was, ‘Could this be the week?’

After all, McIlroy has opened a major with a bogey-free round three times before, and he has gone on to win each of those times. He did so again at Pinehurst No. 2 on Thursday, firing a clean, 5-under 65 to share the lead with Patrick Cantlay through 18 holes.

But he could not convert any opportunities a day later, when he carded a disappointing 2-over 72. His poor Friday round dropped him back to 3-under for the championship.

“Obviously not quite as well as [Thursday], but I feel like the golf course plays a little more difficult, even though we were off in the morning,” McIlroy explained afterward.

“Some of the hole locations were definitely a little tougher. Sort of had to have your wits about you.”

McIlroy lost his wits for a brief moment on the par-3 17th, when he putted his birdie attempt off the front of the green. That brought a double-bogey into play, as his third shot had to climb the steep false front that guards the front of the green. But instead of making a bigger mess of things, McIlroy chipped in for a wild par.

“Overall, I felt like I did a pretty good job of keeping some of the mistakes off the scorecard,” McIlroy opined.

“I wish I had converted a couple more chances. Hit the ball pretty well. I think I only missed one fairway. So, I had plenty of opportunities. Yeah, I wasn’t quite as good with the putter today. Still, overall, we are in a great position going into the weekend.”

McIlroy lost 2.5 strokes on the greens on Friday as he failed to convert multiple looks at birdie. He could not get into a rhythm with his putter, unlike Thursday, when he had an above-average day on the greens.

That trend started early and often: McIlroy missed an 11-footer for birdie at 10, and then missed a par-putt from five feet on 11. Three holes later, McIlroy missed another birdie attempt from 11 feet, increasing his frustrations. He then bogeyed the par-3 15th. Another missed birdie putt followed at the 1st, this time from 10 feet.

At least he salvaged these misses with a birdie at the par-4 3rd, his first of the day. But that proved to be his last one, too.

“I was 2-over pretty early. My goal going into that second nine was if I could get it back to even for the day, I would have been pretty happy,” McIlroy added.

“Got that birdie on 3. I was trying to claw one back there. Ultima,tely I gave one back again.”

McIlroy closed his round with a bogey at the par-3 9th and walked off with his head hung low. But he hit the ball well from tee to green again on Friday. He even led the field in strokes gained off the tee.

Yet, his putter failed him the most, and if he wants to break his decade-long major drought and win the U.S. Open, he will need his flat stick to show up—like it did on Thursday.

Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough for more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.

U.S. Open: Bryson DeChambeau remains patient, honors legend u,s,open,bryson,dechambeau,remains,patient,honors,legend,sbnation,com,front-page,golf,us-open-golf,golf-majors,golf-news,liv-golf


Bryson DeChambeau carded a 1-under 69 Friday at the 124th U.S. Open. It marks his second straight sub-70 score, an impressive feat at treacherous Pinehurst No. 2.

Coincidentally, he posted back-to-back rounds in the 60s to open up the U.S. Open at Winged Foot, where he won in 2020. Will history repeat itself?

Nevertheless, Friday’s second round challenged DeChambeau more so than on day one. He tallied five birdies and four bogeys. However, he ended it on a high note with a birdie on the 18th to shoot under par for the day.

This 1-under round puts him at 4-under for the championship, as he walked off the golf course trailing the leaders by a stroke.

“All in all, I 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.

Thursday saw him gain strokes off the tee, but on Friday, he lost a smidge to the field, losing 0.08. He only hit 7-of-14 fairways and 9-of-17 greens.

DeChambeau picked up those strokes on the green, though. In strokes gained putting, he picked up 2.29 on the field, a stark improvement from losing 0.33 on Thursday.

“This golf course is not going to be the same come tomorrow and the next day, and I’m expecting that,” he said.

“Us competitors, players, have to adjust to those conditions accordingly. I’m excited about the game that I have right now. I feel pretty confident and ready to get after it this weekend.”

This week also marks the 25th anniversary of Payne Stewart’s U.S. Open victory in 1999. The golf legend happened to be someone DeChambeau idolized growing up.

Stewart is a big reason why DeChambeau went to SMU and wore the scally cap for a while. On a recruiting trip to SMU, he saw Stewart’s mural at the golf center, which made the decision easy for him.

DeChambeau does not wear the flat cap as much anymore, but this week, he brought it to honor Stewart.

“I wore the hat as a bit of a tribute to Payne and Ben Hogan,” DeChambeau said.

“Growing up, I was a big Ben Hogan fanatic. Knowing what Payne meant to the game of golf, I am also a Payne Stewart fan. He’s meant a lot to me in the game.

“My first [PGA Tour] win was his first win—the John Deere Classic. It was a different tournament back then, but it meant a lot to me to win there. We have the cap on my bag this week as a remembrance of him. The cap is hanging on the side of the bag and it’s with me and makes me think of him every time I’m walking on these grounds.”

Stewart won the first U.S. Open at Pinehurst in 1999 but would tragically die in a plane crash just four months later. The resort has a statue of Stewart’s iconic celebration that fans can see as they enter the main entrance this week.

After 36 holes, DeChambeau is in the hunt and will need a solid weekend to win his second U.S. Open. He has proven to be one of the most consistent players in the field, which will help tremendously as Pinehurst only gets more complicated.

Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. For more golf coverage, be sure to follow us @_PlayingThrough on all major social platforms. You can also follow her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.

U.S. Open: Sepp Straka ace is perfect redemption story u,s,open,sepp,straka,ace,is,perfect,redemption,story,sbnation,com,golf,us-open-golf,golf-majors,golf-pga-tour,golf-news


Sepp Straka brought the excitement on Friday at the U.S. Open.

He showed the full spectrum of what golf can provide during his second round, following up his triple bogey on the 3rd hole with a hole-in-one on the par-3 9th.

Straka’s 194-yard ace marked his first hole-in-one during a PGA Tour round.

His playing partners watched him as he hit the ball, and as soon as they realized it went in the hole, everyone shot their hands up to celebrate. Straka gave high fives all around, as that shot clearly boosted his mood.

The U.S. Open’s social team got a slight dig with the caption as they referenced his triple bogey earlier in the round. That shot on the third was such a tough break for the Austrian.

Straka nailed the flagstick on the fly, and his ball ricocheted into the greenside bunker. He went on to make a mess of things, making a triple bogey after airmailing his third shot from the sand over the green. So what looked like a birdie opportunity from the fairway quickly turned into a disaster.

Nevertheless, the golfing gods at Pinehurst No. 2 blessed Straka with an ace, a Shakespearean redemption story of sorts. From recording a seven to a one on the scorecard, it does not get any wilder than that.

Straka became the third player to make a hole-in-one on the 9th hole at No. 2. He joins Zach Johnson, who made one in 2014 during the final round, and Peter Jacobson, who did so in 2005 during the third round.

Straka’s ace vaulted him back up to 2-over for the championship, which is inside the cutline at this point. But that hole-in-one helped him immensely after his tough break at the 3rd threatened his chances of making the weekend.

Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. For more golf coverage, follow us @_PlayingThrough on all major social platforms. You can also follow her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.

Golf Talk Today: U.S. Open Rd. 2 Tee Times, Pinehurst causes carnage golf,talk,today,u,s,open,rd,tee,times,pinehurst,causes,carnage,sbnation,com,golf,us-open-golf,golf-majors,golf-pga-tour,golf-news


Welcome to Playing Through’s new morning ritual — Golf Talk Today.

Each morning will feature a Golf Talk Today, where the crew will discuss various elements throughout the PGA Tour, LPGA, LIV Golf, and more.

It’s Friday at the 124th U.S. Open. The round 2 tee times are below, but let’s also discuss how much damage Pinehurst No. 2 did on Thursday.

So brew a pot of coffee, grab some breakfast, and settle in as we get you ready for the second round of the U.S. Open.

Pinehurst No. 2 put a beating on the U.S. Open field

Among the 156 players who teed off on Thursday, 15 are in red figures, and a total of 33 golfers are at even par or better. Pinehurst No. 2 brought the heat, and some of the biggest names in golf fell victim to the carnage.

Big numbers posted by prominent players:

Phil Mickelson: 9-over, 79
Viktor Hovland: 8-over 78
Sahith Theegala: 7-over 77
Justin Thomas: 7-over 77
Harry Higgs: 6-over 76
Will Zalatoris: 5-over 75
Tiger Woods: 4-over 74
Shane Lowry: 4-over 74
Dustin Johnson: 4-over 74

Best quotes from Thursday at The U.S. Open

“It’s really diabolical out there. It was a testament to the patience I had,” Bryson DeChambeau said about the difficulty of Pinehurst No. 2.

“It sort of brings me back to links golf when I was a kid a little bit. The greens are a bit more sort of slopey and there’s a bit more movement on them. But there are options. You can chip it. You can putt it. I’d love if we played more golf courses like this,” Rory McIlroy said on why he loves Pinehurst.

“He’s a strike show. That’s the first time I ever played with him actually… He’s far from a rookie. He’s not even your average first guy playing in a major championship. He’s been on some of the biggest stages already and has shown he’s going to be a world-class player. It was a joy to watch,” Tony Finau said about playing with Ludvig Åberg.

U.S. Open Round 2 Tee Times (ET):

* — Denotes 10th hole start

6:45 a.m. – Greyson Sigg, Grant Forrest, (a) Wells Williams

*6:45 a.m. – Jason Scrivener, Brandon Robinson Thompson, (a) Brendan Valdes

6:56 a.m. – Chesson Hadley, Mark Hubbard, Adam Svensson

*6:56 a.m. – (a) Santiago de la Fuente, Sam Bairstow, Eugenio Chacarra

7:07 a.m. – Beau Hossler, Victor Perez, Adam Schenk

*7:07 a.m. – Kurt Kitayama, Taylor Moore, Christiaan Bezuidenhout

7:18 a.m. – Robert MacIntyre, Nick Taylor, Mackenzie Hughes

*7:18 a.m. – Jason Day, Harris English, Tom Kim

7:29 a.m. – Tyrrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood, Tom Hoge

*7:29 a.m. – Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, Scottie Scheffler

7:40 a.m. – Bryson DeChambeau, Viktor Hovland, Max Homa

*7:40 a.m. — Brian Harman, Nick Dunlap, Wyndham Clark

7:51 a.m. – Sepp Straka, Peter Malnati, J.T. Poston

*7:51 a.m. – Hideki Matsuyama, Jon Rahm, Jordan Spieth

8:02 a.m. – (a) Gordon Sargent, Jake Knapp, Cameron Young

*8:02 a.m. – Shane Lowry, Keegan Bradley, Martin Kaymer

8:13 a.m. – Chris Kirk, Billy Horschel, Adam Scott

*8:13 a.m. – Akshay Bhatia, Eric Cole, Erik van Rooyen

8:24 a.m. – Ben Kohles, Denny McCarthy, (a) Ben James

*8:24 a.m. – Brendon Todd, Taylor Pendrith, Alex Noren

8:35 a.m. – Frankie Capan III, Andy Svoboda, (a) Luke Clanton

*8:35 a.m. – Thomas Detry, Brian Campbell, (a) Jackson Buchanan

8:46 a.m. – Harry Higgs, (a) Hiroshi Tai, Brandon Wu

*8:46 a.m. – Taisei Shimizu, (a) Gunnar Broin, Maxwell Moldovan

8:57 a.m. – Joey Vrzich, Chris Naegel, Otto Black

*8:57 a.m. – Sung Kang, Riki Kawamoto, John Chin

12:30 p.m. – Rico Hoey, Tom McKibbin, Matteo Manassero

*12:30 p.m. – Michael McGowan, Carter Jenkins, Logan McAllister

12:41 p.m. – Dean Burmester, Rikuya Hoshino, Seamus Power

*12:41 p.m. – Frederik Kjettrup, Christopher Petefish, (a) Parker Bell

12:52 p.m. – S.H. Kim, Justin Lower, Tim Widing

*12:52 p.m. – (a) Omar Morales, Max Greyserman, Casey Jarvis

1:03 p.m. – Lucas Glover, Sam Burns, Cameron Smith

*1:03 p.m. – Corey Conners, Stephan Jaeger, Emiliano Grillo

1:14 p.m. – Will Zalatoris, Matt Fitzpatrick, Tiger Woods

*1:14 p.m. – Ryo Ishikawa, Francesco Molinari, Sergio Garcia

1:25 p.m. – Patrick Cantlay, Matt Kuchar, Russell Henley

*1:25 p.m. – Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Brooks Koepka

1:36 p.m. – Tony Finau, Ludvig Åberg, Dustin Johnson

*1:36 p.m. – Rickie Fowler, Adam Hadwin, Phil Mickelson

1:47 p.m. – Justin Rose, Gary Woodland, Webb Simpson

*1:47 p.m. – Min Woo Lee, Sahith Theegala, Nicolai Højgaard

1:58 p.m. – Daniel Berger, Ryan Fox, David Puig

*1:58 p.m. – Si Woo Kim, Matthieu Pavon, Sungjae Im

2:09 p.m. – Byeong Hun An, Sam Bennett, Edoardo Molinari

*2:09 p.m. – Nico Echavarria, Robert Rock, (a) Neal Shipley

2:20 p.m. – Austin Eckroat, Adrian Meronk, Cam Davis

*2:20 p.m. – Takumi Kanaya, (a) Stewart Hagestad, Mac Meissner

2:31 p.m. – Aaron Rai, Davis Thompson, Ga.; Zac Blair

*2:31 p.m. – Isaiah Salinda, (a) Bryan Kim, Jim Herman

2:42 p.m. – Willie Mack III, Richard Mansell, (a) Ashton McCulloch

*2:42 p.m. – Carson Schaake, Charles Reiter, (a) Colin Prater

ICYMI: Top stories from the 1st Round of the U.S. Open

Check out these stories:

U.S. Open Day 1 Winners, Losers: Rory McIlroy, Patrick Cantlay lead; Phil Mickelson falters

An authentic Bryson DeChambeau details “diabolical,” mentally exhausting day at U.S. Open

Rory McIlroy posts strong, disciplined U.S. Open start; has history on his side

Jon Rahm’s U.S. Open replacement taking full advantage of opportunity at Pinehurst

LIV Golf’s Brooks Koepka hilariously entertains fans by reading mean tweets directed at him

Patrick Cantlay relies on short-game wizardry to grab early control of U.S. Open

Tiger Woods teases fans, then falters to begin U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2.

Ludvig Åberg makes promising U.S. Open start with excellent veteran-like score

Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. For more golf coverage, be sure to follow us @_PlayingThrough on all major social platforms. You can also follow her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.

Jon Rahm’s U.S. Open fill-in taking full advantage of opportunity jon,rahm,s,u,s,open,fill,in,taking,full,advantage,of,opportunity,sbnation,com,golf,us-open-golf,golf-majors,golf-pga-tour,golf-news,liv-golf

Jon Rahms US Open fill in taking full advantage of opportunity


When Jon Rahm withdrew and closed the door on his chances of winning another U.S. Open on Tuesday, another door opened for Jackson Suber.

Suber, who attended Ole Miss and has missed four straight cuts on the Korn Ferry Tour, took Rahm’s spot in the field as the first alternate at Pinehurst No. 2. He has since taken full advantage of the opportunity.

The former Ole Miss Rebel shot an impressive 1-under 71 in his major championship debut, all while playing alongside Jordan Spieth and Hideki Matsuyama in one of the featured groups. It’s an impressive accomplishment for anyone, let alone someone who has played in only two events on the PGA Tour.

Yet, the most remarkable aspect of Suber’s performance was not the round itself—instead, it was the rollercoaster he had to take just to become an alternate in this year’s field.

Suber posted 7-under par at the 36-hole final qualifier in Rockville, Maryland. No doubt a solid score, but it was not good enough. He missed a spot in the U.S. Open by a stroke and instead had to go to a 3-for-2 playoff to determine two alternate spots.

“In that qualifier, I had a six-footer on the last hole, and ended up missing that to get to a playoff [for a final spot],” Suber explained.

Jackson Suber hits from a bunker during the first round of the 2024 U.S. Open.
Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images

“I went into the playoff and was pretty bummed but ended up on the third hole making a 50-foot putt for birdie, while my opponent missed a five-footer. It was a very roller coaster week, just like this has been. I heard that I had a chance to get in, almost be the last man in the field, and then ended up being the first alternate with how things shook down at the Memorial. It’s just been a roller coaster.”

He then arrived in Pinehurst, North Carolina, on Sunday evening, hoping somebody would pull out to give him a chance. If nobody did, he had a flight booked to Wichita, Kansas on Tuesday evening for this week’s tournament on the Korn Ferry Tour.

But in a weird twist of fate, one of the biggest stars in professional golf turned Suber’s hopes into a reality.

“I was on the 8th hole, and I got a tip from someone. They said Rahm was pulling out. I wasn’t sure yet, but I was freaking out,” Suber said.

“No. 8 and 9 didn’t get much done in my practice round. When we were on the 9th, we started getting announcements, and my phone started blowing up; people were asking me if I was getting in, and then I called Reese from the USGA pretty quickly and tried to figure out what was going on and if I was going to be playing.

“That was just a really cool moment, especially to figure out I’m getting in the tournament out on the golf course and then be able to call my family and people around me who help me so much. It was a really special moment.”

Since Rahm withdrew after the USGA released the pairings for this year’s tournament, Suber slid in alongside Spieth and Matsuyama.

Best of all, Suber beat them both on Thursday, finishing in red figures while the two major champions failed to break par.

“I talked to Hideki and his caddie a little bit and talked to Jordan and [his caddy] Michael [Greller], as well, and my caddie talked to them, too,” Suber said about playing with Spieth and Matsuyama.

“There wasn’t a ton of chatter, but there were a couple of conversations here and there, and it was good to talk to them. They’re good people.”

Suber managed to score in red figures, but he still had an up-and-down day on Thursday—much like the rollercoaster ride he has experienced as of late.

Over his first five holes, Suber made par, bogey, birdie, bogey, birdie; a stressful yet entertaining way to begin your U.S. Open and sit at even par through five.

He then made a birdie at the par-3 9th, thanks to a tremendous tee shot that landed four feet from the stick. Another birdie at the short par-4 13th followed.

Then, Suber dropped a pair of shots at the 14th and 15th holes. But he bounced back with a birdie at the 523-yard par-4 16th. Like his opening few holes, and his last couple of weeks for that matter, he enjoyed quite the rollercoaster on the back nine, too.

“I always believed I could do this. You never know if you’re actually going to do it, but I feel like I always knew that this was in me,” Suber said.

“I didn’t know if it was going to happen because nothing in life is for sure, but I was going to give it my best chance. I worked hard to be here and feel like I just need to keep working hard and stay humble.”

Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough for more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.

U.S. Open: Rory McIlroy, Phil Mickelson among Day 1 winners, losers u,s,open,rory,mcilroy,phil,mickelson,among,day,winners,losers,sbnation,com,front-page,golf,us-open-golf,golf-majors,golf-pga-tour,golf-news,liv-golf

US Open Rory McIlroy Phil Mickelson among Day 1 winners


The opening round of the 124th U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 did not disappoint. The widely-discussed ‘Turtleback’ greens made some players look foolish, while others struggled to navigate the native areas that line the fairways.

And yet, after all 156 players finished their rounds, two players sit atop the leaderboard by themselves. Patrick Cantlay and Rory McIlroy shot impressive 5-under 65s, with Cantlay posting his score in the morning while McIlroy did so during the afternoon.

Interestingly, when Martin Kaymer won at Pinehurst in 2014, he, too, carded a 65 to open the championship. Kaymer held a three-shot lead after that first round and won by eight. Cantlay and McIlroy, meanwhile, have plenty of company within striking distance. They hold a one-stroke lead over Ludvig Åberg, while Bryson DeChambeau and Matthieu Pavon lurk two shots back. Tony Finau, Tyrrell Hatton, and Akshay Bhatia sit at 2-under.

Here are the winners and losers from round one:

Winners

Rory McIlroy has history on his side

Rory McIlroy posted the best round of his season, bar none. He shot a 5-under 65, which included a pair of birdies on the 16th and 18th holes. But in doing so, he carded a bogey-free opening round in a major for the fourth time in his career.

The previous three instances?

The 2011 U.S. Open, the 2012 PGA Championship, and the 2014 Open Championship.

Hmmmm. What do these three tournaments have in common? Oh yeah, McIlroy won each, each by a sizable margin, too.

Rory McIlroy during the first round of the 2024 U.S. Open.
Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

Before this week, I wrote that, for McIlroy to win the U.S. Open, he needed to take advantage of Pinehurst’s par-5s, remain patient, and gain strokes putting.

He checked all three of those boxes Thursday, even though his birdie at five came via a chip-in—no pictures exist on a scorecard, however. All jokes aside, McIlroy had a stoic vibe about him all day. He remained conservative when needed, and never got overly aggressive with his approaches. Most importantly, he gained one stroke on the field with his putter, the ultimate determining factor for McIlroy’s success. Now, thanks to this solid start, he has given himself a terrific opportunity to break that 10-year-long major championship drought.

Patrick Cantlay

Patrick Cantlay is currently ranked 9th in the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR), but he has not played up to that standard so far this season.

His numbers are down across the board from a year ago when he ranked 3rd on the PGA Tour in total strokes gained. At this point in the season, he is currently 77th and has recorded only a pair of top 10s to date.

Patrick Cantlay, U.S. Open

Patrick Cantlay on the 13th tee.
Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images

Yet, he showed everyone why he is still a top player on Thursday, carding a 5-under 65 to shoot to the top of the leaderboard. But he does not have a terrific major championship resume. He only has four career top 10s in major, none of which have come in a U.S. Open.

Nevertheless, if his short game continues to perform as it did on Thursday, a day in which he led the field in strokes gained around the greens, watch out for Cantlay to possibly join his close friend Xander Schauffele as first-time major winners this season.

The golf course itself

So much talk was made of Pinehurst No. 2 coming into the championship: the history, the sandy waste areas that line the fairways, the greens, and the areas surrounding these putting surfaces, too. All of it has lived up to the hype and then some. The course tested the best players in the world both adequately and fairly while also producing some quality entertainment.

Look no further than Collin Morikawa, who ‘ping-ponged’ his way around the 15th hole en route to a double bogey. Two holes later, he holed out from the sand for a birdie.

Keep an eye on Morikawa, too. He did not have his best stuff on Thursday, but he closed with a pair of par breakers to get back to even for the championship.

Ludvig Åberg

How can you not be impressed with 24-year-old Ludvig Åberg?

In his U.S. Open debut, Åberg looked like a seasoned veteran, firing to the middle of the greens while making little mistakes. When he tallied up his score, it totaled to a 4-under 66, an impressive mark for anyone, let alone someone playing Pinehurst No. 2 for the first time.

The young Swede relied heavily on his driver and ball striking, ranking in the top three in both categories on Thursday. Typically, good results follow when a player has both of these facets working. That was the case for Åberg, who said afterward that he has “nothing to complain about.”

Matthieu Pavon’s putter

Nobody gained more strokes on the putting greens (4.31) on Thursday than Frenchman Matthieu Pavon, who rolled in a pair of eagles on both of Pinehurst’s par-5s.

Matthieu Pavon, U.S. Open

Matthieu Pavon putts on the 16th hole.
Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images

The first eagle came at the par-5 5th, where he rifled a 4-iron to 17 feet and made the putt. Five holes later, at the 617-yard 10th hole, Pavon launched a 3-wood from 288 yards away to 27 feet. He made that, too. He had his putter rolling, a necessity to score well on these diabolical, ‘Turtleback’ greens at Pinehurst No. 2.

If he can keep his putter hot, who knows? Perhaps Pavon can contend, and win, much like he did at Torrey Pines—another U.S. Open course—earlier this season. But he still has a long way to go before we can have that discussion, and he needs to improve his ball striking, which ranked 62nd among the field on Thursday.

Losers:

Peacock

You have the best three golfers in the world, Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, and Rory McIlroy, playing in the tournament’s marquee pairing on Thursday afternoon. Scheffler and Schauffele struggled somewhat, relative to how they have played as of late, while McIlroy put together his best round of the season. But to watch them finish their opening rounds, you needed to do so behind a paywall.

Peacock aired the first round’s final three hours, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET, a prime time slot that cable television should have picked up.

The U.S. Open prides itself on providing hours of coverage, but it fumbled this time slot badly. I’m fine with putting coverage behind a paywall in the morning but not in the afternoon, when everyone’s attention is on the tournament while the workday wraps up.

Phil Mickelson

Phil Mickelson, U.S. Open

Phil Mickelson grimaces during the first round of the 2024 U.S. Open.
Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

Twenty-five years ago, Phil Mickelson came agonizingly close to winning his first U.S. Open title. But he will not come close this time around.

The 6-time major champion made nine bogies during his opening round, carding a 9-over 79. He could not get anything going with any club in his bag, as he hit only 6-of-14 fairways. But perhaps even more shocking is that Mickelson found only three greens in regulation. He lost nearly three strokes to the field on approach.

He will need to shoot in the mid-60s on Friday just to make the cut, which, given how he hit the ball on Thursday, seems rather unlikely.

Mickelson last made a U.S. Open cut in 2021.

Justin Thomas

Justin Thomas has been trending in the right direction over the last month, which includes a top-10 finish in his hometown at the PGA Championship.

But he looked nowhere close to replicating that form on Thursday. Thomas signed for a 7-over 77 on Thursday, struggling heavily with his irons. He even had Tiger Woods watch him hit balls on the range after his round, per Golf.com’s James Colgan.

Like Mickelson, Thomas made nine bogies during the first round, but unlike the left-hander, he did make two birdies: one at the par-5 5th and another at the par-4 18th.

Regardless, Thomas will need to have a better ball-striking day on Friday, or else he will miss a cut at a major for the second time this season. It would also mark his fifth missed cut over his last seven major starts. Yikes.

Temporary TIO Relief

The temporary immovable obstruction (TIO) rules in professional golf are ridiculous. These guys have more talent than anyone else in the world, and yet, when a tower, sign, or even wiring obstructs their line somewhat, they must seek relief.

That happened to both Bryson DeChambeau and Scottie Scheffler on Thursday.

DeChambeau rifled his tee-shot way right on the par-5 5th hole, destined for trouble. But it came to rest with a “wire” obstructing his view. As such, DeChambeau got to take a drop in a much easier spot a few yards to the left, which provided him with a clear line to the green. He went on to make birdie.

Scottie Scheffler, U.S. Open

Scottie Scheffler hits his second shot on the 16th hole during the first round.
Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

Scheffler, meanwhile, had a similar instance take place on the challenging par-4 16th. After pulling drives all day, and uncharacteristically missing left with his driver on multiple occasions, Scheffler did so again on 16. His ball stopped rolling right behind a tree, but because the tee signage from the 18th hole obstructed his view, he received TIO relief. He then dropped his ball—scratch that—he placed his ball a few yards right, giving himself a perfect angle into the green. Unfortunately for him, Scheffler caught his second shot too clean and airmailed the green. He went on to make bogey.

But it’s not like this is anything new, either. Dustin Johnson received TIO relief on the 10th hole at Oakmont during the final round of the 2016 U.S. Open. He hooked his drive 50 yards left off the tee, which nestled down in gnarly thick rough. But because a TV Tower blocked his view some 100 yards away, Johnson asked for TIO relief, received it, then dropped in the first cut of an adjacent fairway and walked away with par.

If only us amateurs could receive TIO when we play…

Viktor Hovland

Viktor Hovland, U.S. Open

Viktor Hovland on the 8th tee.
Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images

What happened to Viktor Hovland on Thursday?

After finishing in solo third at Valhalla and posting a strong finish at the Memorial, Hovland looked lost at Pinehurst No. 2 on Thursday—a shocking development considering he looked back on track after reuniting with his coach, Joe Mayo.

He shot an 8-over 78, a round that included a pair of double-bogies on the 11th and 14th holes. He also made six more bogies.

Hovland lost nearly three strokes around the greens on Thursday, ranking 151st out of 156 players in that department—proof that his short game is still a work in progress.

The Norwegian has struggled chipping and pitching this season, ranking 173rd on tour in strokes gained around the green. Given that Pinehurst No. 2 places a premium on one’s short game, it’s no surprise that Hovland struggled as much as he did, given his shortcomings with his game around the greens. Still, to see one of the best players in the world implode this badly is an alarming sight to see.

Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough for more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.

U.S. Open: Bryson DeChambeau details “diabolical,” exhausting day u,s,open,bryson,dechambeau,details,diabolical,exhausting,day,sbnation,com,front-page,golf,us-open-golf,golf-majors,golf-news,liv-golf


Bryson DeChambeau shot an impressive 3-under 67 to begin the 124th U.S. Open. He is one of 15 players who shot under par on Thursday, but that did not stop him from being completely authentic after his round.

Only DeChambeau could pick an immaculate adjective like this when discussing Pinehurst No. 2:

“It’s really diabolical out there,” DeChambeau said.

“Those greens, oh, my gosh, they can get away from you.”

It was a solid day for DeChambeau, who made four birdies and a bogey on his 16th hole, the par-4 7th.

DeChambeau leads the field in strokes gained off the tee, gaining 2.85 on the field. He is also eighth in strokes gained around the greens, picking up 2.17 on his fellow competitors.

In all, the 2020 U.S. Open champion hit 15-of-18 greens and 12-of-14 fairways.

He is right in the mix and just two shots behind leaders Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay.

A birdie on 13 got his day started, but his momentum surged when he chipped in for a birdie on the 18th, his ninth hole.

His last two birdies came at the 3rd and 4th—both par-4s—before a mistake at 7 cost him his bogey-free round. He seemed pleased with his performance, but it was not a leisurely day on the course.

“I would say from a mental exhaustion perspective, this was probably the most difficult that I’ve had in a long, long, long time,” he said.

“I can’t remember the last time I mentally exerted myself that hard to focus on hitting fatter parts of the green instead of going for flags. I did that quite nicely until the last few holes.”

He knows how to recoup for Friday’s round, though, mentally and physically.

“Eat a lot. Get a lot of carbs and food in me, good protein, just recover tonight,” DeChambeau said of what he needs to do to prepare for round two.

“I have to get up early and go back at it in the morning. Recovery is going to be key. I’m going to go hit a couple of balls and make sure it’s all dialed in and ready for tomorrow. I do a lot of breathing techniques. It’s almost like nature now. So, I’ve got my techniques that I work on. Make sure my brain is in a good spot, get some good treatment, and really focus on the positives of the day.”

Everyone in the field seems to have some kind of strategy this week—breathing techniques are just one part of DeChambeau’s unique approach to the game.

But the LIV golf star’s recuperation period will be short as he, Viktor Hovland, and Max Homa will begin their second rounds on Friday at 7:40 a.m. ET.

Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. For more golf coverage, follow us @_PlayingThrough on all major social platforms. You can also follow her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.

U.S. Open: Rory McIlroy has history on his side after solid start u,s,open,rory,mcilroy,has,history,on,his,side,after,solid,start,sbnation,com,front-page,golf,us-open-golf,golf-majors,golf-pga-tour,golf-news


Rory McIlroy matched Patrick Cantlay’s first-round score at the 124th U.S. Open as he fired off a bogey-free 5-under 65. They both sit atop the leaderboard after the first 18 holes at Pinehurst No. 2.

The last time McIlroy shot a bogey-free opening round at a U.S. Open was in 2011 at Congressional Country Club. He also did not make bogies during his opening rounds at the 2012 PGA Championship and the 2014 Open Championship, all three tournaments he went on to win.

But at Congressional, where went on to win his first major championship of his career, he also started with a bogey-free 65.

“I felt like I controlled most aspects of my game well. Controlled myself, controlled my mind—was disciplined when I needed to be,” McIlroy said on air with NBC Sports’ Damon Hack.

“Relentlessly trying to hit fairways, hit greens—there was a stretch at the start of the back nine where I kept hitting it to 20 feet and missing putts. I could have gotten frustrated, but I felt my patience was rewarded with the birdies on two of the last three holes.”

McIlroy hit 11-of-14 fairways and 14-of-17 greens in regulation. He recorded five birdies on the day, including two in his last three holes.

The four-time major winner ranked fifth in strokes gained around the greens, picking up 2.51 strokes on the field. He also gained 1.4 off the tee and 2.17 with his iron play.

“Super conservative with my strategy and my game,” he said.

“I think with my demeanor, trying to be super stoic, trying to be as even-keeled as I possibly can be. I feel like that’s the thing that has served me well in these U.S. Opens over the past few years. Just trying to be 100 percent committed to the shots.”

McIlroy knows how important a good start is in a major championship, but when it comes to the U.S. Open, it’s crucial to start well if a player wants to win the event. He has gotten off to a good start the last couple of years at this event, which has led to him finishing runner-up in 2023 and tying for fifth in 2022, seventh in 2021, and eighth in 2020.

Before that, he missed three straight cuts at the U.S. Open, as he opened with rounds of 80, 78 and 77.

“I think more so in this championship than the others—getting off to a good start is important to try and keep yourself up there,” McIlroy said.

“You need to give yourself as much of a cushion as possible, knowing what’s lurking around these corners. 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.”

It also helps that McIlroy loves Pinehurst No. 2 and how it plays. In 2014, he tied for 23rd here and started with a 1-over 71 that week. But the 35-year-old is already off to a better start and has his eyes on ending that decade-long major championship drought.

McIlroy will not have a long break before his second round begins as he, Scottie Scheffler, and Xander Schauffele will tee off on the 10th hole at 7:29 a.m. ET.

Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. For more golf coverage, follow us @_PlayingThrough on all major social platforms. You can also follow her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.