124th US Open: 10 biggest winners and losers from Round 1, including Bryson DeChambeau and Phil Mickelson

Patrick Cantlay, who is part of the group of stars in today’s generation that has yet to win a major championship, got off to a good start Thursday with a 5-under 65, which ties the lowest score for a round at Pinehurst No. 2 for a U.S. Open.

Starting on the back nine, Cantlay birdied the par-4 11th before missing the green on the par-3 15, settling for a bogey. However, that is when he turned on the jets. He made back-to-back birdies on the par-4 18 and the par-4 first before making three birdies on his final five holes for a front nine 4-under 31.

Related: Golf world reacts to Patrick Cantlay making his U.S. Open history at Pinehurst

Justin Thomas struggled Thursday morning, shooting 7-over 77 in his first round. Thomas, the two-time PGA Champion, recorded three bogeys on his first holes before making birdie on the par-5 fifth. However, he gave that stroke back with a bogey on the par-4 eighth. Then on the back nine, he made five bogeys on the first six holes before making a birdie on his final hole of the day.

In the afternoon wave, Rory McIlroy was able to reach Cantlay at 5-under par. McIlroy did not make a bogey as he made back-to-back birdies on the par-4 fourth and the par-5 fifth. He added a birdie on the other par-5 at the 10th before making two birdies on his last two holes on the par-4 16th and the par-4 18th. The last three times McIlroy opened with a bogey-free round at a major, he won each of those events at the 2011 US Open, the 2012 PGA Championship, and the 2014 Open Championship.

Related: Where Rory McIlroy stands on the list of U.S. Open Champions

Sahith Theegala struggled in his first round shooting 7-over 77 like Thomas. The challenges of Pinehurst No. 2 got the best of Theegala, who was 7-over through his first six holes, which included making a double bogey on the par-4 third and the par-3 sixth.

Outside of those six holes, Theegala played even par, highlighted by making two birdies on the par-5 10^th and the par-4 14^th. Theegala hit just four of 14 birdies Thursday, which was one of the worst marks in the first round.

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Making his US Open debut, Ludvig Aberg showed that he belongs, even on a tough Pinehurst No. 2 course. Aberg, who reached 4-under par and one shot back of Cantlay and McIlroy, started on the back nine and made back-to-back birdies on the par-4 11^th and the par-4 12^th by making 18-foot and 32-foot putts, respectively.

Aberg was able to get to 3-under with a birdie on the par-4 first by getting his 143-yard approach to three feet.

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Viktor Hovland did not have the best of opening rounds on Thursday. He was 6-over through his first seven holes on the back nine, including double bogeys on the par-4 11^th and the par-4 14^th. He was able to get one shot back with a birdie on the par-4 18^th. However, Hovland made four bogeys in a six-hole stretch that continued to push him back of the leaders.

Matthieu Pavon, who became the first Frenchman to win on the PGA Tour in 117 years in January to earn a spot in the US Open, had a solid opening round, shooting 3-under 67. His round was fueled by not one, but two eagles on the par-5 fifth and the par-5 10^th. To become the first player in four US Opens at Pinehurst No. 2 to have two eagles in a round.

On the fifth, Pavon was able to get his 241-yard approach to 17 feet for the first eagle. On the 10^th, he was able to get his approach from 297 yards to set up his 27-foot putt.

Another LIV Golf player makes this cut in Phil Mickelson, but for the opposite results that DeChambeau had. Mickelson went birdie-free on his round, shooting a 9-over 80 to begin his quest for his first U.S. Open title. Mickelson started with four straight bogeys and five of six before another bogey on the par-4 eighth.

Then on the back nine, Mickelson made three consecutive bogeys from holes No. 11-13 as he only hit six of 14 fairways in the first round.  

Related: How players like Mickelson receive an exemption into the 2024 U.S. Open

Bryson DeChambeau had a solid round, with one blemish on his scorecard. Outside of a bogey on the par-4 seventh, the PGA Championship runner-up made four birdies and 13 pars, including a chip-in for birdie on the par-4 18^th just before making the turn to the front nine.

Avoiding bogeys, three-putts and repeat shots is vital this week and DeChambeau knows that to be in contention on Sunday, he has to find that level once again heading into tomorrow’s cut day before the weekend.

Also read: 10 big names to watch during the 2024 U.S. Open

On Thursday, Neal Shipley had the best round among the amateurs in the US Open field, shooting an even-par 70. Shipley, who is playing his final event as an amateur, shot even par on the front nine with two birdies and two bogeys. To begin his back nine, he got two birdies in three holes before giving both of those strokes back on a double bogey on the par-3 15^th. Shipley is in a good position heading into Friday’s cut day.