Thursday’s 5 things at 2024 U.S. Open: Patrick Cantlay, Rory McIlroy lead; Ludvig Aberg puts on stripe show at Pinehurst No. 2

PINEHURST, N.C. — Patrick Cantlay shares physiotherapist Marnus Marais with Scottie Scheffler, Gary Woodland, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas and Xander Schauffele. When Schauffele won the PGA Championship in May, their group text temporarily was re-named “five major winners and Patrick.”

All jokes aside, Cantlay, a past FedEx Cup champion and eight-time PGA Tour winner, wants to follow in Schauffele’s footsteps and get off the schneid in the majors.

He’s off to a fine start in the North Carolina sandhills. The 32-year-old Cantlay carded six birdies and posted 5-under 65 on Thursday at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club (No. 2 Course) to grab a share of the first-round lead at the 124^th U.S. Open with Rory McIlroy, who posted one of two bogey-free rounds.

For more on Cantlay’s start, click here. Here are five more things to know from the first round of the 124th U.S. Open.