Rory McIlroy’s superb start could spark end to 10-year Major drought

PINEHURST – Inspired by playing alongside top rivals, Rory McIlroy grabbed a share of the US Open lead on June 13, saying that he has boosted his chances to end a 10-year Major drought.

The Northern Irishman, who last won a Major at the 2014 PGA Championship, fired a bogey-free five-under 65 to match ninth-ranked American Patrick Cantlay for the first-round lead at Pinehurst.

“I went through a run there for a while where my starts at Major championships weren’t very good. Probably got myself a little too worked up at the start of the week,” said the four-time Major winner, who had five birdies.

“Certainly the Major championships I’ve won, or the ones I’ve played well at, I’ve always seemed to get off to a good start. I think more so in this championship, getting off to a good start is really important to give yourself as much of a cushion as possible.”

The 35-year-old world No. 3 has had increasingly better US Open results for the past five years, including last season’s runner-up effort to American Wyndham Clark.

But he feels that nothing has drastically changed.

“I feel like I’m the same player. If anything, I’d say my iron play is maybe a touch better this year just looking at the stats. But, overall, I feel like I’m pretty much the same golfer,” he said.

Perhaps what was a little bit different in the circumstances was that he was helped by playing in a feature group of the world’s three top-ranked players, which spurred him on. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler opened on 71 and second-ranked Xander Schauffele shot 70.

“I enjoy playing in these groups. When you’ve been out here for 16 or 17 years, sometimes you need a little extra to get the juices going, and being in a group like that definitely helps,” McIlroy added.

McIlroy and Cantlay took a one-stroke lead over Sweden’s sixth-ranked Ludvig Aberg, a Masters runner-up in his Major debut, with France’s Matthieu Pavon and American Bryson DeChambeau sharing fourth on 67.

Cantlay, seeking his first Major win, and McIlroy matched the lowest US Open rounds at Pinehurst, two 65s by Martin Kaymer on his way to victory in 2014.

“Played pretty solid most of the way. The golf course played pretty difficult. But I drove it well. Lot of balls on the fairways. Left the ball in the right spots,” said the 32-year-old, who finished with six birdies.

Pavon, meanwhile, became the first golfer to record multiple eagles in the same US Open round at Pinehurst.

His first breakthrough came on No. 5 and later on No. 10 – the course’s two par-five holes – where he rolled in putts of 18 feet and 27 feet. He reached five under before his first bogey on the par-four 11th.

After the second eagle, the Frenchman played the final eight holes in two over.

It was a rough day for Tiger Woods, who shot 74 with two birdies – both on the par-five holes – and six bogeys to share 86th spot.

Behind the 15-time Major champion, Singapore’s Hiroshi Tai posted a 75 to place joint-105th in his US Open debut.

The 22-year-old amateur is

the first Singaporean to play in a Major

since 2012 – when Mardan Mamat was disqualified on his third appearance at the British Open.

Georgia Institute of Technology sophomore Tai earned his spot at the US Open, and also the 2025 Masters, after

winning the individual title

at the National Collegiate Athletic Association Championship on May 27. AFP, REUTERS