Bryson DeChambeau is one of golf’s greatest players — and he’s in the mix at Pinehurst.
Getty Images
They say you won’t win the big tournament on Thursday – but you sure can.
For the purposes of this column, you can do both!
Here’s a selection of US Open overreactions based on Day 1 play at Pinehurst.
Introducing your Thursday winners and losers.
WINNER: PATRICK CANTLAY’S DEBUT
WHY: He shot the lowest score in the morning wave, which makes him worthy of this list. Cantlay’s five-under 65 tied the lowest round in Pinehurst US Open history. It also puts him in a good position to challenge big, something he hasn’t done as often as you’d expect considering how well he’s played over the past five years.
Cantlay hasn’t played his best golf in the last month or so, though, but he’s clearly figured something out — though he wouldn’t share his secrets.
“I’ve been working hard on my game, and usually when you make a few changes and work hard, it’s just a matter of time,” he said.
On Thursday, Cantlay was in the top five in rushing yards in the closer and No. 1 on the field for most wins on the green. Keep that streak going on this golf course? You will be there eventually.
THE LOST: MATTEO MANASSERO’S DEBUT
WHY: He made 8 in the first group from No. 10 on their first hole, showing Pinehurst’s teeth when…
WINNER: SERGIO GARCIA’S 25TH IN A ROW
WHY: He entered the field, with one thing. He played very well, for one. Garcia entered the qualifiers and played well but lost in the final, threatening her streak of consecutive US Opens. No worries: He found his way into his position and made the most of Day 1, making 17 pars and a birdie in a 1-under 69 round. After the round he was all smiles.
“I had the pleasure of playing this title for 25 years in a row,” he said. “So, not many people will do that, so I’m very happy to be here, that’s why I keep trying to qualify and get here.”
LOST: PHIL MICKELSON, 25 YEARS LATER
WHY: Mickelson nearly won the 1999 US Open; he ended up losing to Payne Stewart on the floor. It’s truly amazing that Mickelson is still here all these years later – and on the release of the latest major winners, even less! – but any thought that he might impart some of his Kiawah magic was quickly dashed. Mickelson birdied his first four holes of the day and nine of his first 13. In total he made nine bogeys and nine pars in a nine-over 79. This will not be his year.
WINNER: 10 YEARS OF MARTIN KAYMER
WHY: The last time Pinehurst hosted the US Open, Martin Kaymer won. With eight shots. That was bad. Even wilder? Last time he won anywhere – unless you count his team’s win over Cleeks last week at LIV Houston. But Kaymer has been getting better, she said. He was playing better. And that showed in Thursday’s opening round even with a par 70. I think he’s among the most exciting players in the tournament.
WINNER: RORY MCILROY, 10 YEARS LATER
WHY: McIlroy didn’t win the 2014 US Open, but his last championship win was in 2014 and now we’re looking back a full decade since then. It’s hard to imagine him looking much better than Thursday, when he shot a bogey-free 65 to tie Cantlay for the lead. They don’t resell until Saturday, unfortunately. But golf fans can dream of a renewed Ryder Cup rivalry this weekend…
“I think I’m very careful with my strategy and my game,” McIlroy said, questioning his technique. “I think about my behavior, I’m just trying to be super stoic. I’m just trying to be as patient as possible. I feel like that’s what has served me well in these US Opens the last couple of years. Just trying to be 100 percent committed to the shot and 100 percent committed to being in shape good attitude.”
Likewise.
WINNER: LUDVIG ABERG’S KNEE
WHY: There has been talk of a knee issue for Ludwig Aberg, but in his first go at golf’s toughest test – seriously, he’s never played a US Open before – he was amazing. Second in strokes gained off the tee. The second in batting earned a pass. Aberg hit the entire fairway, made six birdies and shot a 66. As for that knee?
“No, I don’t mind at all,” he said.
OUT: A SHORT PLAY BY VIKTOR HOVLAND
WHY: Maybe we were too quick to announce Hovland all the way back? Although he struggled early in the season, in finishing third at the PGA Championship he looked like the same person he once was as the world’s hottest player at the end of 2023. But on Thursday he lost three shots. greens and shot an 8-over 78, the highest score of his US Open career.
WINNER: PETTY BROOKS
WHY: Brooks Koepka reaches three under par for the first time and leads the US Open. He then made three bogeys coming home and shot an even-par 70. He then refused the media. But then he did a text interview with her Golfweek’s Eamon Lynch, citing a variety of factors including boring golf media questions – and he doesn’t think anyone will miss him.
“More than that I don’t care to do. Everyone else refuses the interview. I never do it. I better come back, rest and spend some time relaxing. Not angry at all. I hope that is clear. I have declined my press conference this week.”
You can read more here. (For the record, I’m always interested in what Brooks has to say. I had a blast talking to him about the episode below. Although it’s hard to argue with his “boring questions”.)
WINNER: TIGER DRIVER
WHY: Tiger Woods looked very good, which was the part of his game that bothered him the most. He missed only two roads. He hit it hard. He finished in the top 20 percent in strokes gained off the tee. That part was encouraging.
“I thought I did the one thing I should have done today, drive the ball well,” he said. “I did that, I didn’t use any of it.”
LOST: SEASONS OF THINGS
WHY: The greatest iron player in golf history hasn’t had his best stuff lately. His irons let him down during a crucial stretch at the PGA Championship. And they weren’t good on Thursday, either; he lost about two shots to the field during his approach. He’ll need that to improve Friday to have any chance of playing on the weekend.
“It wasn’t as good as I would have liked. “I looked one-sided earlier in the week, which is interesting,” Woods said. “I was drawing the ball a lot. Now I cut the ball a lot. Welcome to golf.”
WINNER: THE BRYSON SHOW
WHY: After competing in the Masters and falling just one shot short of a playoff at the PGA Championship, the crowd-pleasing, fast-swinging, 3D-printing Crushers captain is in the third major of the year, too. His game looks great, his clubs feel great and he will be a pleasure to watch on this course this weekend. The world’s greatest YouTube golfer continues after a 3-under 67 opening round.
It’s obviously been an unusual year for Rahm, who started 2024 by making official his move from the PGA Tour to LIV. He played well there, finishing in the top 10 every week, although he hasn’t won yet. But Rahm is a guy who values his legacy and his place in golf history, so his T45-MC-DNS (foot ulcer) record in the first three majors of the year is pretty sad.
WINNER: JON RAHM’S TRANSFORMATION
WHY: When Rahm withdrew, Korn Ferry Tour champion Jackson Suber entered another list. He slipped into Rahm’s team alongside Jordan Spieth and Hideki Matsuyama. He then shot an opening round 69, putting himself in the top ten.
LOST: GREAT FORM OF JUSTIN THOMAS
WHY: Thomas has struggled at the top of the game’s major events following his 2022 PGA Championship win – but his eighth-place finish at Valhalla last month heralded a new chapter. On Thursday, however, Thomas struggled with his irons and struggled with his putter en route to a 7-over 77. He’ll need a strong rally to make the cut.
WINNER: TONY FINAU
WHY: We have started sleeping on Tony Finau. Is that the perfect time to sneak up on everyone? His opening round of 68 is a career high.
BROTH: Carnage
Not enough, if you ask me. With so few teams left there is only one point over 80. The average score is just 73.1. On day 1, that might be fine. But let’s prepare those plants for a week to see how things turn sour.
A final note on World No. 1: We’re tempted to put Scottie Scheffler in the “loser” category, at least by his standards, after an opening-round 71. But Scheffler has made too many wins to be called one. kind of lost, even in a forum as silly as this one. He only has six guns left – meaning no one in front of him should feel safe.
Let’s do this again tomorrow and see how things go.
Dylan Dethier welcomes your comments at dylan_dethier@golf.com.
