Fresh off his first round at this 124th U.S. Open, as the third player to shoot 65 at Pinehurst, McIlroy spoke about his strategy to aim for the middle of greens and accept conservative play where needed and his luck with the weather and placement.

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In his interview, Matthieu Pavon highlighted the importance of smart play and course management, particularly in making two eagles on par-5s which gave him a sense of freedom. He also discussed recent struggles adapting to tougher PGA Tour courses, noting specific adjustments to his putting technique and short game to better handle the faster, slopier greens in the U.S.

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Ludvig Åberg reflected on his strong opening round, emphasizing his discipline and strategic play, which helped him navigate Pinehurst's challenging course. He highlighted the importance of staying disciplined, even with tempting shots, and credited his recent work on correcting his right miss tendency for contributing to his consistent performance today.

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Tony Finau was pleased with his 2-under 68, attributing his success to accurate driving and solid play from the fairways. He noted the course's increasing firmness and tricky pins, emphasizing the importance of patience and strategic shot placement, while highlighting the challenge posed by specific holes and the overall competitive nature of the U.S. Open.

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Patrick Cantlay described his round as solid, emphasizing good driving and smart shot placement on a difficult course. Reflecting on his recent form, he mentioned hard work and minor adjustments paying off, while also acknowledging that the course will likely get tougher due to the weather conditions and maintenance.

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Sergio Garcia reflected on his preparation for the tournament, coming off a strong performance at LIV Houston, and expressed his satisfaction with shooting a 1-under 69, especially highlighting the achievement of a bogey-free round. He emphasized the importance of strategic play, driving accuracy, and maintaining patience on the challenging course, while also discussing his love for the game and motivation from his family and personal drive. AUDIO COURTESY OF THE USGA

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Tiger Woods discussed his struggles with iron play and putting despite driving the ball well, attributing his performance to a combination of conservative play and less-than-ideal shot execution. He highlighted the challenging nature of the course's greens, the importance of strategic positioning, and his ongoing efforts to balance physical health with maintaining sharpness in his game. AUDIO COURTESY OF USGA COMMUNICATIONS

In his interview, Collin Morikawa emphasized the challenging nature of the course, noting that even good shots could end up in difficult positions, making birdies hard to come by. He highlighted his resilience in bouncing back from mistakes and the importance of staying focused and taking his medicine on tough holes.

Afternoon update on scores

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