12:18AM
Rory McIlroy on his stellar first round
The golf course is a little different to what it was last year, but still the same strategy, same mindset. Just trying to hit it into the middle of greens and giving yourself chances every single time, taking your medicine if you do hit it into trouble.
My short game was good early on. I chipped in at five and had a really good up-and-down on six, another really good up-and-down on eight. But apart from that, I think I hit every other green. It was a really controlled round of golf.
I enjoy playing in these groups. When you’ve been out here for, whatever it is, 16 or 17 years, sometimes you need a little extra to get the juices going, and being in a group like that definitely helps.
Credit: Shutterstock/Erik S Lesser
12:10AM
DeChambeau cleans up for par
After winning hearts and minds at the US PGA, DeChambeau is in the hunt again after a three-under round of 67.
Credit: Getty Images/Alex Slitz
12:05AM
A day to forget for Hovland
He has just rolled in a putt on the ninth green to finish with an eight-over 78. That is his US Open challenge over before it began.
11:54PM
Tyrrell Hatton and Tommy Fleetwood finish up on the ninth
Both players make pars on the short hole. Hatton is in the clubhouse with an impressive two-under 68 while Fleetwood is also in the mix at level-par. It appears doubtful that Hatton has the patience for Pinehurst but this has been a good start.
Credit: AP/George Walker IV
11:36PM
McIlroy finishes with a birdie!
This has been an exemplary first round: McIlroy has been firing on all cylinders and will sign for a five-under 65 to match the score of Patrick Cantlay. No bogeys and McIlroy had his ball on a string from tee to green. His first round was six shots better than Scheffler’s, who was ragged by his very high standards.
11:32PM
Bogey for DeChambeau on the 7th
He will be disappointed to lose a shot at a short par four, but he was always going to be up against it after missing the green long. DeChambeau falls back to three-under.
11:29PM
Solid approach from McIlroy
He will have an uphill birdie from 15 feet or so to tie Cantlay, and will surely secure a bogey-free opening round. Scheffler misjudged his second, and it bounded some 40 feet beyond the pin. McIlroy has looked in total control today.
11:20PM
Fairway found by Scheffler and McIlroy on the 18th
Only a modest 435 yards the home hole, so they will have wedges in their hands for the seconds. Schauffele, at level par, flipped his three-wood over to the left.
11:16PM
Scheffler drains a birdie putt on the 17th
Despite only hitting five fairways at Pinehurst, the World No 1 is still within touch of the leaders as he moves back to one-over. McIlroy taps in for another par, just one hole remaining to keep his card clean.
11:11PM
To the 17th…
McIlroy with another iron shot that finishes pin high, will have a birdie putt from 25 feet or so on the dangerous par three. Scheffler hits one of his better shots of the day, well inside McIlroy.
Over at the sixth, DeChambeau two-putts from long range to save par.
11:03PM
Birdie for McIlroy
The Northern Irishman walked in that birdie putt from 15 feet on the 16th, and it was another hole expertly navigated from tee to green. McIlroy joins Aberg and DeChambeau at four-under, just one behind Cantlay. Can he sneak one more birdie in to tie the lead?
11:02PM
Bogey for Scheffler
Over at the 16th, it was Scheffler’s turn to benefit from a free drop but he could not salvage a par. His putt was an unconvincing attempt and the World No 1 falls back to two-over. Schauffele drains his putt for a par.
10:53PM
Another birdie for DeChambeau
He makes his four on the par five fifth, although he benefitted from an enormous break off the tee. A tall, thin pole that is used to record strokes gained statistics was in his line of sight, so he was able to drop out to the left where he had a clearer shot. His drive was not far from being out of bounds.
10:48PM
A stroke of luck for Schauffele
He missed the 16th fairway left and his second from the waste area clattered into some branches before bouncing out into the fairway. He will have a chance to get up and down for par from there. Scheffler’s second will also be played from the pine straw.
10:41PM
Scheffler will need to head to the range after this round…
His driving has been strangely suspect, and another fairway has been missed on the 16th. No such problems for McIlroy who finds the cut and prepared once again. Tyrrell Hatton has also just picked up a birdie to return to two-under.
10:35PM
Cracking birdie try from McIlroy on the 15th
His tee shot on the tough par three sneaked on to the front edge, and his birdie lag from 50 feet or more scared the hole. Another hole ticked off, still no bogey on the card. Scheffler also makes his par to stay at one-over.
10:26PM
Matsuyama with another hole out from sand
10:25PM
McIlroy cleans up for par
He rushed his birdie try some six feet past, but held his nerve. Still no bogeys on the card as he walks to the 15th tee. Two tough, 200-plus yard par threes in the final four holes.
10:17PM
McIlroy finds the heart of another green
Another pin-high approach shot from McIlroy on the 14th, after finding another fairway. This has been almost the perfect US Open round, although Patrick Cantlay’s earlier today may end up being a shot or two better.
10:04PM
Schauffele showing his resillience
The second birdie in four holes on the back nine moves the US PGA champion back into red figures. In the same group, it is another stress-free two-putt par for McIlroy to remain three-under. Just five holes remaining – can McIlroy keep his card clean?
9:58PM
DeChambeau picks up another birdie
He joins McIlroy at three under after cutting the 389-yard par four third down the size. DeChambeau is back to his best after something of a slump last year.
Credit: AP/George Walker IV
9:49PM
Another well-played hole from McIlroy
It’s a stress-free par on the card at the 12th.