The U.S. Open is underway on Pinehurst's No. 2 course, and no one was expecting it to be an easy one.
The green at Pinehurst No. 2 is a defining feature of the Donald Ross Course, home of the 124th U.S. Open, which began Thursday morning. It's been called many things: upside-down cereal bowl, upside-down saucer, turtleback, dome. Whatever you call it, everyone considers it a fearsome green, especially at the U.S. Open, known as golf's toughest test.
Below, we follow Dallas-area golfers as they make their weekend move, including world number one Scottie Scheffler and Jordan Spieth. Some have already completed their first rounds, while others aren't scheduled to tee off until the afternoon.
(This story will be updated throughout the day. To see the complete U.S. Open leaderboard, click here.)
Scottie Schaeffler
1st round: +1, through 3rd round (T-57)
The best player in golf is a favorite to win wherever he plays. Scheffler was just arrested and jailed at the PGA Championship. Still, he tied for eighth at Valhalla and finished runner-up the following week at Colonial. He won the Memorial Tournament last week, his fifth victory in the last eight tournaments. His tee-to-green shots and chipping should serve him well on the second hole at Pinehurst.
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Jordan Spieth
1st round: E, 2 wins (T-21)
Spieth won by one stroke at Chambers Bay in 2015, becoming the youngest player to win the U.S. Open since Bob Jones in 1923. That victory made him just the sixth player to win the U.S. Open and the Masters in the same year, but the Dallas native has struggled in the tournament since then, finishing as low as a tie for 19th in 2021.
Bryson DeChambeau
1st round: E, 2 wins (T-21)
DeChambeau showed the golf world just how entertaining he is with his runner-up finish at Valhalla. Power doesn't hurt in golf, but control on and around the green is paramount. That will be his challenge.
Ludwig Aberg
1st round: -4, F (T-2)
Since turning pro in June 2023, the former Texas Tech All-American has rapidly climbed the rankings and was named to Luke Donald's European Ryder Cup team before competing in a major tournament. He finished second at this year's Masters but missed the cut at the PGA Championship.
Will Zalatoris
Round 1: +5, F (T-113)
Zalatoris, a Plano resident, has won two U.S. Open titles in his young career, coming close to forcing a playoff with eventual winner Matt Fitzpatrick on the 72nd hole in 2022. He finished tied for sixth in 2020. Zalatoris missed most of the 2023 season after undergoing back surgery.
Tom Kim
1st Round: E, Top 4 (T-21)
The Dallas resident has been a rapid riser in golf since finishing tied for 23rd in his U.S. Open debut at The Country Club in 2022. The 21-year-old Kim has won two PGA Tour events in 2022, the Wyndham Championship and the Shriners Children's Open.
Tom Hogue
1st round: E, 3rd place (T-21)
Hogue, a native of Fargo, North Dakota, will be playing in his seventh U.S. Open after finishing inside the top 60 in the Official World Golf Rankings as of May 20. At Texas Christian University, Hogue won two tournaments and tied for third in the 2009 NCAA Division I Championships.
Sam Bennett
1st round: -1, F (T-5)
The 2022 U.S. Amateur champion will compete in his third consecutive U.S. Open after shooting 5-under 135 in the final qualifying round at Duke University Golf Club. The former Texas A&M University All-American turned professional after finishing tied for 16th at the 2023 Masters and earning low amateur honors.
The Associated Press contributed to this post.
Pinehurst puts up an incredible challenge at the U.S. Open Scottie Scheffler remains a popular bet at the U.S. Open, despite being a heavy favorite.
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