The 124th U.S. Open has kicked off at Pinehurst No. 2 in Pinehurst, North Carolina, with plenty of early excitement and surprises. Holding the early lead is Patrick Cantlay, who finished his opening round with an impressive 5-under 65. As Cantlay carded three birdies in his final five holes, he secured a two-shot lead over the field before entering the clubhouse.

While Cantlay soared to the top, Scottie Scheffler, the top-ranked player in the tournament, had a rocky start to his round. After opening with two bogeys, Scheffler managed to bounce back with a birdie on the seventh hole, finishing the day with a 1-over par. This marked a departure from Scheffler's recent stellar performances, showcasing that even the best players can encounter challenges on the green.

It was Rory McIlroy who stole the limelight within his group, as he made back-to-back birdies early on to jump to 2-under. Despite Xander Schauffele struggling with consecutive bogeys, McIlroy remained in contention and finished the day just three shots behind the leader, Cantlay.

Brooks Koepka, a two-time U.S. Open winner, initially appeared to be making a run for a third title. However, after momentarily sharing the lead, Koepka stumbled with three bogeys towards the end of his round, ultimately settling for an even-par score.

Meanwhile, golf legend Tiger Woods faced a challenging round. Although he started with a birdie, Woods struggled to find consistency throughout the day, finishing with a 4-over 74. With Friday's round crucial for him to make the cut, Woods hopes to redeem himself after failing to do so in last month's PGA Championship.

The leaderboard saw Ludvig Åberg closing the gap with an impressive 4-under 66, marking his first-ever U.S. Open round. Cantlay's stellar performance kept him in the lead, showcasing his skill and setting the tone for the rest of the tournament.

As golf enthusiasts eagerly follow the action, the early wave of players has set the stage for an exciting U.S. Open. With Cantlay leading the pack, it remains to be seen which players will rise to the challenge and make a push for the coveted championship title.