DistantNews
Support us
Golf: Stevens leads U.S. Open with McIlroy and Aberg one shot behind
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Sports

Golf: Stevens leads U.S. Open with McIlroy and Aberg one shot behind

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Ongoing story
  • American golfer Sam Stevens leads the U.S. Open after the first round with a score of two under par, despite starting with a double bogey.
  • Rory McIlroy and Ludvig Aberg are close behind, just one stroke off the lead, with McIlroy expressing satisfaction with his performance despite a difficult finish.
  • World number one Scottie Scheffler is further back after shooting an even-par 72, while conditions at Shinnecock Hills were challenging due to wind and course setup.

Unknown American golfer Sam Stevens unexpectedly seized the lead at the U.S. Open on Thursday, finishing the first round at two under par. Stevens, who has never won a PGA Tour event, carded a 68 despite a double bogey on his opening hole and a two-hour fog delay.

Stevens, 29, navigated the challenging Shinnecock Hills course with a mix of birdies and bogeys, ultimately ending his round with a crucial birdie putt on his final hole. "I played well with the drive. I hit my irons very well. I had a lot of birdie opportunities. The greens were a little softer, they had to water them. I made some good putts," Stevens commented on his performance.

I played well with the drive. I hit my irons very well. I had a lot of birdie opportunities. The greens were a little softer, they had to water them. I made some good putts

— Sam StevensCommentary on his performance after the first round of the U.S. Open.

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy and Sweden's Ludvig Aberg are hot on Stevens' heels, sitting just one stroke behind at one under par. McIlroy, the world number two, finished with two consecutive bogeys but remained optimistic. "Overall, it was a really good day," McIlroy said. "Obviously, it hurts a little to finish the way I did, especially because I don't feel like I hit particularly bad iron shots on holes eight and nine."

Overall, it was a really good day. Obviously, it hurts a little to finish the way I did, especially because I don't feel like I hit particularly bad iron shots on holes eight and nine.

— Rory McIlroyReflecting on his first-round performance at the U.S. Open.

McIlroy is vying to become the seventh player to win the Masters and the U.S. Open in the same year, a feat not achieved since Jordan Spieth in 2015. Aberg, seeking his first major title, briefly held the lead before a bogey on the fourth hole. "The wind is definitely a major factor," Aberg noted about the challenging conditions.

World number one Scottie Scheffler is among those further down the leaderboard after posting an even-par 72. Scheffler, a two-time Masters champion, is aiming to complete a career Grand Slam at this event, having won the British Open and PGA Championship last year. The tournament features a field of 156 players competing under difficult weather conditions.

The wind is definitely a major factor. I'm happy with the way I was hitting the ball, happy with the way I managed when I had to (...) Yes, it's a tough test.

— Ludvig AbergDiscussing the challenging conditions at the U.S. Open.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog