In an exciting start to the Pinehurst Championship, golf fans witnessed some sensational plays from top-ranked players. Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay showcased their skills, putting on a display of exceptional golf to make their mark on the leaderboard.

McIlroy, currently tied for third place, showed his mastery of the course with a bogey-free round. The Northern Irishman's momentum continued as he birdied the par-5 10th, dropping his score to 3-under for the day. With a clean card and birdies on the 4th, 5th, and 10th holes, McIlroy remains a strong contender to challenge Cantlay's early lead.

Meanwhile, Cantlay impressed spectators with an impressive opening round of 65, maintaining his position as the frontrunner. Speaking about his round, Cantlay expressed his satisfaction, saying, "I'm really happy with the round I played today." With a 5-under score, he currently leads the field.

Not to be overshadowed, Bryson DeChambeau added some excitement to the tournament with an incredible chip-in birdie on the 18th hole. The shot was considered one of the most improbable birdies of the day, catapulting DeChambeau into contention as he finished the round at 2-under.

However, not all players had a smooth start. Spain's David Puig struggled, going 6-over in the opening round. Puig now faces an uphill battle to make the weekend and keep his hopes of qualifying for the Paris Olympics alive.

Among the other prominent players in the field, Scottie Scheffler had an up-and-down round. Despite some errant shots, Scheffler managed to stay at 1-over, owed in part to his caddie's courage on a particularly challenging hole. Xander Schauffele, on the other hand, struggled early on, already sitting at 2-over after missing a par putt at the 5th hole.

As the tournament progresses, the cutline is expected to be an area of interest. With the rule set at the top 60 players and ties, the projected cutline currently stands at +1, which would include 80 players. The tight competition means tomorrow's rounds will be crucial for many golfers to secure their spots for the weekend.

With captivating performances and unexpected turns, the Pinehurst Championship is shaping up to be an enthralling event. As players battle it out on the course, the leaderboard remains unpredictable, leaving golf enthusiasts eagerly awaiting the next rounds and the culmination of this thrilling championship at Pinehurst.