The first round of the 2024 U.S. Open is in the books, and we’re ever closer to crowning a champion at Pinehurst No. 2.
Before we get to that point, there has to be a cut, which is the top-60 and ties at the U.S. Open. The USGA’s championship is smack in the middle of the majors when it comes to weekend cuts. The PGA Championship and Open Championship each allow the top-70 and ties to play the weekend while the Masters, which has the smallest field of the majors, is the top-50 and ties.
And after the opening day at the U.S. Open, there are plenty of notables who have work to do come Friday to make the weekend.
Pinehurst No. 2 is playing like a typical U.S. Open. Firm, fast, and there were plenty of scores over par on the opening day. Don’t expect there to be more birdies than bogeys over the next three days.
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After the opening day of play, the cut is projected at 2 over with 64 players in position to play the weekend. Here’s who is on the outside looking in.
Matt Fitzpatrick (3 over)
The 2022 U.S. Open champion played alongside Tiger Woods and Will Zalatoris in the opening round and had the best round of the group. But he has work to do to avoid only his second missed cut at the U.S. Open.
Wyndham Clark (3 over)
The defending U.S. Open champion has some work to do come Friday to make the cut, though he’s not too far back. He had only one birdie and four bogeys in the opening round while struggling with his irons, hitting only nine greens.
Tiger Woods (4 over)
Big Cat is making his first U.S. Open start since 2020, but a poor stretch in the middle of his round that included five bogeys in seven holes means he has work to do.
Dustin Johnson (4 over)
The 2016 U.S. Open champion had five bogeys before his lone birdie of the day.
Will Zalatoris (5 over)
Many may forget Zalatoris came a couple shots away from possibly having two major titles in 2022. He has been up and down since return from back surgery, but a 5-over performance on Thursday has him behind the 8-ball.
Justin Thomas (7 over)
Thomas, a two-time major champion, had nine bogeys in his first round, though two birdies helped offset the damage just a bit.
Sahith Theegala (7 over)
Considering Theegala was 7 over thru 6 holes, shooting even par the next 12 is a huge bonus. Possibly it’s some momentum heading into Friday?
Viktor Hovland (8 over)
It seemed as if Hovland may have figured out his slow start to the season with his strong showing at the PGA Championship. But on Thursday, he had as many doubles as birdies and had a lot of bogeys, too. The 78 is his worst round in a U.S. Open.
Phil Mickelson (9 over)
Mickelson has six runner-up finishes at the U.S. Open, the one major he hasn’t won in his career. And after one round, it’s likely that’s not happening this year after as many bogeys as pars (9 each) in the first round. He beat only two players Thursday.
