Patrick Cantlay, currently ranked ninth in the world, opened the US Open with a five-under par 65. The American golfer’s strong start positions him well for a potential major victory breakthrough at the 124th US Open. Cantlay’s round included birdies on three of his last five holes, enabling him to match the US Open course record set by Martin Kaymer in 2014. Despite never leading after a round in a major before, Cantlay’s hard work and perseverance seem to be paying off.
Cantlay has been playing on the US PGA Tour since 2012 and has eight titles to his name, including the 2021 Tour Championship. However, he has yet to secure a major win. His closest attempt came with a share of third place at the 2021 PGA Championship. Out of 29 major starts, Cantlay has only managed four top-10 finishes. Although just a few players were under one-under par by the end of the day, Cantlay remains optimistic about the challenges the Pinehurst course will present in the coming days.
Having opened on the back nine, Cantlay navigated the course well and made six birdies throughout his round. He emphasized the importance of making putts inside eight feet and credited his success to executing this skill effectively. Cantlay acknowledged that he was fortunate to have played in favorable conditions during his round, including a morning tee time with no wind, which he believed contributed to his strong performance. Despite expecting increased difficulty as
