SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — Each day at U.S. Open, PGATOUR.COM’s staff writers will dive into the big issues and questions everyone is discussing. Patrick Reed (73) said the USGA set up Shinnecock “long and hard” but fair. A lot of players struggled, though, and the field average was north of 76. Jon Rahm, Jordan Spieth and Tiger Woods shot 78. Martin Kaymer and Adam Hadwin each shot 83. Was it too hard or is this just the way a “true U.S. Open” is supposed to look? Sean Martin, Senior Editor: Despite the high scores, I don’t think I saw a negative word about the setup. These scores will happen when the winds are humming like they were today. Fortunately for the players, this was supposed to be the windiest day of the week. Ben Everill, Staff Writer: What is “fairâ€� really? Honestly, I don’t care if they put every flag a pace from an edge because at the end of the day everyone in the field plays the same course. I like it when these guys are out of the comfort zone once in a while. Firm it up some more! Cameron Morfit, Staff Writer: I heard more than one afternoon starter complain about the state of the greens, and some of the morning guys felt the pins placements could have been kinder. But in the end, those who played well or reasonably well are going to have their say, while those who struggle will criticize or bite their tongues. This was just really hard, old-school major championship golf. Jonathan Wall, Equipment Insider: I didn’t see a single shot today that led me to believe this was a tricked-out setup. Shinnecock is one of the toughest courses in the world — and that’s before you add U.S. Open conditions and unrelenting winds. I think it was tough but fair, which is exactly what the USGA is going for this week. Phil Mickelson hit 13-of-14 fairways, which was way better than usual, but still shot 77. What went so wrong for Mickelson? Martin: Sometimes you have to wonder if he just wants it too much. Even the optimistic Mickelson has to realize that he only has so many opportunities left to win the U.S. Open. That has to add to the pressure. Everill: Pressure. He wants this too much and as such will never win it. He thinks he has time… I say it has passed. Morfit: I followed this group and noticed that while Mickelson was hitting fairways, he was often leaving himself way too far back. It’s not enough to just hit the fairways with a mid-iron; you’ve got to give yourself a short enough second shot to get at these pins, or at the very least hold the greens. I think he actually played too conservatively, which might be the first time I’ve ever said that about Phil. Wall: I think he was too conservative off the tee. Hitting the fairway is important, but he left himself with some long second shots. Not only that, he struggled with his iron game a bit in Memphis. I wondered if it could come back to bite him this week. It sure looked that way on Thursday. There were not many scores in red numbers Thursday, and some surprising names at or near the top of the leaderboard. Which one surprised you most, and why? Martin: It has to be Matthieu Pavon, right? The tattooed Frenchman could follow in the footsteps of countryman Gregory Havret as a surprise contender in a major championship. Pavon is No. 213 in the world ranking and missed five of his last six cuts. He shot 71 on Thursday, though. Everill: I’ve got to go with Russell Henley. I know he’s a TOUR winner and has game but his putter is pretty streaky and I just didn’t expect his short game to hold up in these conditions. More power to him. Morfit: Russell Henley is such a mercurial talent. He looked like the game’s next big star when he burst onto the scene with that win at the Sony Open in Hawaii, and he was great at the Houston Open last year, but he can go so quiet in stretches. I covered his win at Houston, and still I totally forgot how good he is when he’s on. Wall: Scott Piercy walked off the course four holes into a practice round and called his wife to tell her he’d likely be home on Saturday. Now he’s tied for the lead after the first round. Even with his recent U.S. Open success, I did not see that coming. Jason Day, Rory McIlroy, Mickelson, Spieth and Woods were casualties in the first round, with Mickelson’s 77 the best score of the bunch. Which blow-up surprised you most? Martin: I think Day. He has a good U.S. Open record because, like Tiger, he has a knack for grinding out pars in the toughest conditions. Plus, he spoke confidently in his pre-tournament press conference about his chances of regaining No. 1 in the world, and for good reason. He has two wins this season. Everill: Jason Day’s 79. Given he was my pick to win the championship, I was shocked with what I saw. It was also how he made his errors as his trusty putter went missing. Seeing him putt a ball off a green is something I never expected to see. Morfit: Day’s 79. He’s such a grinder in tough conditions, plus he’s won twice already this season. He just didn’t have it. Wall: Jason Day. He normally finds a way to grind out a score even when he doesn’t have his best stuff. Instead, he’ll likely miss out of the weekend for the second straight year. There was a 92 in the first round, which is obviously too far back, but what’s the highest you could shoot in round one and still be in this tournament? Martin: Raymond Floyd won here in 1986 after a first-round 75. He needed a final-round 66 to overtake a packed leaderboard. It would take something magical to win after shooting higher than that. Everill: I reckon you’re still a rough chance from 6-over and in. It is going to take three very good rounds from there, but with hard and fast and windy conditions set to continue, anything under par or around par is going to move you nicely up the board. Morfit: Anything at 75 or better is still in it. Jimmy Walker, Patrick Cantlay and defending champion Brooks Koepka were among those at 5-over, but as Koepka pointed out an under-par score in the second round would get him (or anyone else on that number) right back in this thing. Wall: I’ll say 5-over still has a chance. But it’s going to take a herculean effort to get out of a deep hole. Posting a couple near-spotless rounds feels like an impossible task at Shinnecock.Â
U.S. Open roundtable: Big names struggle in windy opening round
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Miscellaneous | |
Type: Requests – Status: OPEN | |
3rd Round – Scottie Scheffler / Xander Schauffele / Collin Morikawa – All Hit Fairway With Opening Tee Shot | +100 |
3rd Round – Scottie Scheffler / Brooks Koepka – Lowest/2nd Lowest Score (Any Order) (Includes Ties) | +5000 |
3rd Round – Scottie Scheffler / Brooks Koepka – Both Under 65.5 | +1400 |
3rd Round – Scottie Scheffler / Brooks Koepka / Justin Thomas / Dean Burmester – All Under 67.5 | +4000 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – A. Noren v S. Lowry | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Alex Noren | -120 |
Shane Lowry | +100 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – B. DeChambeau v B. Koepka | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Brooks Koepka | -130 |
Bryson DeChambeau | +110 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – C. Smith v M. Homa | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Cameron Smith | -110 |
Max Homa | -110 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – T. Finau v T. Kim | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Tony Finau | -145 |
Tom Kim | +125 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – R. McIIroy v X. Schauffele | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Xander Schauffele | -115 |
Rory McIlroy | -105 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – K. Bradley v J. Spieth | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Jordan Spieth | -125 |
Keegan Bradley | +105 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – V. Hovland v J. Thomas | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Viktor Hovland | -115 |
Justin Thomas | -105 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – H. English v T. Detry | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Harris English | -125 |
Thomas Detry | +105 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – J. Day v M.W. Lee | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Jason Day | -115 |
Min Woo Lee | -115 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – C. Morikawa v S. Theegala | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Collin Morikawa | -155 |
Sahith Theegala | +130 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – P. Cantlay v C. Young | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Patrick Cantlay | -130 |
Cameron Young | +110 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – T. Hoge v W. Zalatoris | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Will Zalatoris | -130 |
Tom Hoge | +110 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – P. Cantlay vs J. Spieth | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Patrick Cantlay | -125 |
Jordan Spieth | +105 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – A. Eckroat vs T. Detry | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Austin Eckroat | -110 |
Thomas Detry | -110 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – H. English vs K. Bradley | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Harris English | -110 |
Keegan Bradley | -110 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – T. Finau vs B. Hun An | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Byeong Hun An | -115 |
Tony Finau | -105 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – L. Herbert vs T. Moore | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Taylor Moore | -155 |
Lucas Herbert | +125 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – T. Hoge vs M. McNealy | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Maverick McNealy | -110 |
Tom Hoge | -110 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – M. Hubbard vs A. Rai | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Aaron Rai | -115 |
Mark Hubbard | -105 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – S. Lowry vs K. Kitayama | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Kurt Kitayama | -110 |
Shane Lowry | -110 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – R. MacIntyre vs M. Wallace | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Matt Wallace | -115 |
Robert MacIntyre | -105 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – H. Matsuyama vs S. Theegala | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Hideki Matsuyama | -115 |
Sahith Theegala | -105 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – C. Morikawa vs B. DeChambeau | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Collin Morikawa | -115 |
Bryson DeChambeau | -105 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – A. Noren vs D. Burmester | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Dean Burmester | -125 |
Alex Noren | +105 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – X. Schauffele vs B. Koepka | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Xander Schauffele | -135 |
Brooks Koepka | +115 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – S. Scheffler vs R. McIIroy | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | -165 |
Rory McIlroy | +135 |
3rd Round Match-Up – S. Soderberg v B. Todd | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Sebastian Soderberg | -125 |
Brendon Todd | +105 |
3rd Round Match-Up – D. Ghim v L. Hodges | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Doug Ghim | -110 |
Lee Hodges | -110 |
3rd Round Match-Up – A. Tosti v A. Bjork | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Alejandro Tosti | -125 |
Alexander Bjork | +105 |
3rd Round Match-Up – L. Glover v A. Hadwin | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Adam Hadwin | -110 |
Lucas Glover | -110 |
3rd Round Match-Up – A. Putnam v T. Olesen | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Andrew Putnam | -110 |
Thorbjorn Olesen | -110 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – T. Hatton v B. Harman | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Tyrrell Hatton | -145 |
Brian Harman | +125 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – R. Fox v R. Holgaard | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Ryan Fox | -115 |
Rasmus Hojgaard | -105 |
3rd Round – Six Shooter – Group A – M. Homa / J. Day / P. Cantlay / M.W. Lee / C. Smith / J. Spieth | |
Type: 3rd Round – Six Shooter – Status: OPEN | |
Max Homa | +350 |
Cameron Smith | +400 |
Patrick Cantlay | +400 |
Jason Day | +475 |
Jordan Spieth | +475 |
Min Woo Lee | +475 |
3rd Round – Six Shooter – Group B – S. Scheffler / B. Koepka / R. McIIroy / B. DeChambeau / X. Schauffele / C. Morikawa | |
Type: 3rd Round – Six Shooter – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +260 |
Rory McIlroy | +375 |
Brooks Koepka | +475 |
Xander Schauffele | +475 |
Bryson DeChambeau | +500 |
Collin Morikawa | +550 |
3rd Round – Six Shooter – Group C – V. Hovland / H. Matsuyama / B. Hun An / J. Thomas / S. Theegala / T. Finau | |
Type: 3rd Round – Six Shooter – Status: OPEN | |
Viktor Hovland | +330 |
Byeong Hun An | +400 |
Hideki Matsuyama | +450 |
Justin Thomas | +450 |
Sahith Theegala | +450 |
Tony Finau | +475 |
3rd Round – Six Shooter – Group D – H. English / R. MacIntyre / T. Detry / M. Wallace / A. Eckroat / M. Hubbard | |
Type: 3rd Round – Six Shooter – Status: OPEN | |
Harris English | +350 |
Thomas Detry | +400 |
Austin Eckroat | +425 |
Robert MacIntyre | +425 |
Matt Wallace | +450 |
Mark Hubbard | +475 |
3rd Round 2 Balls – M. Kang / S. Kemp | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Sarah Kemp | -110 |
Minji Kang | +120 |
Tie | +750 |
3rd Round 2 Balls – M. Khang / A. Lee | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Megan Khang | -105 |
Andrea Lee | +115 |
Tie | +750 |
3rd Round 2 Balls – M. Jutanugarn / A. Buhai | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Ashleigh Buhai | -105 |
Moriya Jutanugarn | +115 |
Tie | +750 |
3rd Round 2 Balls – Y. Nishimura / A. Furue | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Ayaka Furue | -135 |
Yuna Nishimura | +150 |
Tie | +750 |
Scottie Scheffler Specials | |
Type: Scottie Scheffler Specials – Status: OPEN | |
PGA Championship (Top 10 Finish) & US Open (Top 10 Finish) | -250 |
PGA Championship (Top 10 Finish) & The Open (Top 10 Finish) | -200 |
US Open (Top 10 Finish) & The Open (Top 10 Finish) | -150 |
PGA Championship (Top 10 Finish) & US Open (Top 10 Finish) & The Open (Top 10 Finish) | +125 |
PGA Championship (Top 5 Finish) & US Open (Top 5 Finish) | +125 |
PGA Championship (Top 5 Finish) & The Open (Top 5 Finish) | +150 |
US Open (Top 5 Finish) & The Open (Top 5 Finish) | +200 |
PGA Championship (Top 5 Finish) & US Open (Top 5 Finish) & The Open (Top 5 Finish) | +650 |
Win PGA Championship & US Open | +1200 |
Win PGA Championship & The Open | +1400 |
Click here for more… | |
3rd Round 2 Balls – P. Anannarukarn / N. Koerstz Madsen | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Nanna Koerstz Madsen | +105 |
Pajaree Anannarukarn | +105 |
Tie | +750 |
3rd Round 2 Balls – G. Ruffels / M. Saigo | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Gabriela Ruffels | -145 |
Mao Saigo | +160 |
Tie | +750 |
3rd Round 2 Balls – N. Korda / A. Jutanugarn | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Nelly Korda | -230 |
Ariya Jutanugarn | +250 |
Tie | +750 |
3rd Round 2 Balls – A. Thitikul / S. Mi Lee | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Atthaya Thitikul | -180 |
So Mi Lee | +200 |
Tie | +750 |
US Open 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +350 |
Rory McIlroy | +1100 |
Jon Rahm | +1200 |
Ludvig Aberg | +1600 |
Xander Schauffele | +1600 |
Collin Morikawa | +2000 |
Viktor Hovland | +2000 |
Brooks Koepka | +2500 |
Cameron Smith | +2500 |
Patrick Cantlay | +2500 |
Click here for more… | |
The Open Championship 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +500 |
Jon Rahm | +1000 |
Rory McIlroy | +1000 |
Viktor Hovland | +1100 |
Brooks Koepka | +2000 |
Cameron Smith | +2000 |
Cameron Young | +2000 |
Collin Morikawa | +2000 |
Ludvig Aberg | +2000 |
Jordan Spieth | +2500 |
Click here for more… | |
Requests | |
Type: Requests – Status: OPEN | |
The Open Championship – Alex Noren – Top 20 Finish | +175 |
Solheim Cup 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
USA | -140 |
Europe | +135 |
Tie | +1200 |
Ryder Cup 2025 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
USA | -135 |
Europe | +135 |
Tie | +1000 |