Rory McIlroy matched Patrick Cantlay’s first-round rating on the 124th U.S. Open as he fired off a bogey-free 5-under 65. They each sit atop the leaderboard after the primary 18 holes at Pinehurst No. 2.
The final time McIlroy shot a bogey-free opening spherical at a U.S. Open was in 2011 at Congressional Nation Membership. He additionally didn’t make bogies throughout his opening rounds on the 2012 PGA Championship and the 2014 Open Championship, all three tournaments he went on to win.
However at Congressional, the place went on to win his first main championship of his profession, he additionally began with a bogey-free 65.
“I felt like I managed most points of my sport nicely. Managed myself, managed my thoughts—was disciplined once I wanted to be,” McIlroy stated on air with NBC Sports activities’ Damon Hack.
“Relentlessly attempting to hit fairways, hit greens—there was a stretch at the beginning of the again 9 the place I saved hitting it to twenty ft and lacking putts. I may have gotten pissed off, however I felt my persistence was rewarded with the birdies on two of the final three holes.”
McIlroy hit 11-of-14 fairways and 14-of-17 greens in regulation. He recorded 5 birdies on the day, together with two in his final three holes.
The four-time main winner ranked fifth in strokes gained across the greens, choosing up 2.51 strokes on the sphere. He additionally gained 1.4 off the tee and a couple of.17 together with his iron play.
“Tremendous conservative with my technique and my sport,” he stated.
“I feel with my demeanor, attempting to be tremendous stoic, attempting to be as even-keeled as I presumably will be. I really feel like that’s the factor that has served me nicely in these U.S. Opens over the previous few years. Simply attempting to be 100% dedicated to the pictures.”
McIlroy is aware of how vital an excellent begin is in a significant championship, however on the subject of the U.S. Open, it’s essential to begin nicely if a participant desires to win the occasion. He has gotten off to an excellent begin the final couple of years at this occasion, which has led to him ending runner-up in 2023 and tying for fifth in 2022, seventh in 2021, and eighth in 2020.
Earlier than that, he missed three straight cuts on the U.S. Open, as he opened with rounds of 80, 78 and 77.
“I feel extra so on this championship than the others—getting off to an excellent begin is vital to attempt to preserve your self up there,” McIlroy stated.
“You must give your self as a lot of a cushion as attainable, realizing what’s lurking round these corners. Definitely, the main championships that I’ve gained or those that I’ve performed nicely at, I’ve at all times appeared to get off to an excellent begin, and it’s good to get off to a different one.”
It additionally helps that McIlroy loves Pinehurst No. 2 and the way it performs. In 2014, he tied for twenty third right here and began with a 1-over 71 that week. However the 35-year-old is already off to a greater begin and has his eyes on ending that decade-long main championship drought.
McIlroy is not going to have a protracted break earlier than his second spherical begins as he, Scottie Scheffler, and Xander Schauffele will tee off on the tenth gap at 7:29 a.m. ET.
Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Taking part in Via. For extra golf protection, comply with us @_PlayingThrough on all main social platforms. You can even comply with her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.
