The 124th U.S. Open is underway at Pinehurst No. 2 in, well, Pinehurst, North Carolina.
From the jump, the field will be chasing world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who is on a heater not seen since Tiger Woods’ heyday. Scheffler tees off in the afternoon wave (1:24 p.m. ET to be exact) along with Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele. By then, they’ll have a good idea of how difficult the course is playing.
10 updates
Liz Roscher
Tiger Woods’ iron shots have been leaning to the right all morning, but he was perfect off the tee at 15. He got close to another birdie, but settled for par. His tee shot on 16 wasn’t as successful, missing the fairway for the first time this morning.
Remember Ludvig Aberg
You may not — this U.S. Open is only the third major of his career — but you may recall the 24-year-old Swede finishing second, behind only Scottie Scheffler, at the Masters in April.
Well, after missing the cut at the PGA last month, he’s got it going early with a 2-under round to put himself atop the leaderboard.
Yes, it’s very early in his career, but he’s got the game to win a major.
Liz Roscher
Tiger’s making moves
Tiger Woods nearly had a disaster on 14, with the ball on his second shot nearly rolling back downhill off the green, but he managed to turn it into a sterling birdie opportunity. He missed the roughly six-to-eight-foot putt, but saved par and kept his cool, looking calm but serious as he retrieved the ball from the hole.
Tiger’s playing partners are also through 14. Matthew Fitzpatrick parred the hole, while Will Zalatoris made birdie.
Tiger has the putter working early
After spraying his approach into a bunker on 12, Tiger Woods managed to get up-and-down from about 10 feet to save par.
Then at 13, after a perfect drive, he flew the approach over the green, chipped back on to give himself an 8-footer for par and … he drained it again.
About those greens
When we say “turtleback” greens, here’s what it refers to … a seemingly solid shot to the green, only to be on the wrong side of the swale … and down it goes.
It’s early but …
Tiger birdies
The two biggest things players will have to manage this week are keeping it in the fairways (and out of the sandy “rough”) and manage those difficult greens. After a beautiful drive, Tiger Woods sliced his second at the par-5 10th in the “rough.” His first test came early and … he recovered beautifully.
He curled in a 12-footer for birdie. 1-under. Solid start for Big Cat.
Jay Busbee
From the course
PINEHURST, N.C. — Conditions here couldn’t be finer. As Tiger Woods and other early tee times began their first round, birds chirped high in the pines and the sun began burning off the morning mist.
The big early question is how players will handle Pinehurst’s infamous greens. The slopes are wicked enough, and if the greens dry out over the course of the day, it could be a long, frustrating first round for much of the field.
The big dogs — Scheffler, Schauffele, McIlroy — don’t tee off until 1:14, and by then we should have a good idea of how the course is playing.
Isn’t it ironic
Two players are under par … both amateurs. Go figure.
Here comes Tiger Woods …
And they’re off …
The 124th U.S. Open is officially underway. Already we’re seeing the test that will be Pinehurst No. 2 and its turtleback greens. We’ve got a bogey and double bogey at the first hole in the first threesome. Buckle up.
