(Pinehurst) Rory McIlroy had his first bogey-free round at a major since his last victory in this context 10 years ago on Thursday, a 65 that gave him a share of the summit with Patrick Cantlay at the State Open -United.

McIlroy capped his round with a 20-foot putt for birdie on the 18th hole. He was taking his fourth step towards the cup when the ball fell into it.

“I thought I was short,” McIlroy said. It was a great way to end the day. With the way I played and how I carried myself, I feel like this score is well deserved. »

Cantlay hit from a bunker for a birdie on his second hole. He also holed two twenty-foot putts for birdies, in addition to being limited to one bogey.

The Pinehurst 2 club was both playable and punishing, with more than a dozen scores under par. Masters Tournament champion Scottie Scheffler was not in the mix, however.

Following his fifth victory of the year at the Memorial, the world number 1 still managed a 71.

After a strong start, Tiger Woods made five bogeys in seven holes en route to a 74.

In major tournaments, he is 12 rounds in a row without having done better than normal.

McIlroy quickly came into his own, hitting a 6-iron shot seven feet from the pennant on the fourth hole. Totaling 528 yards, this is the most difficult par 4 on the course.

McIlroy has prevailed the last three times he opened with a bogey-free round at a major tournament – ​​at the 2014 British Open, the 2012 PGA Championship and the U.S. Open in 2011.

“It’s important to have a good start when you know what awaits you,” he confided.

Present at the tournament for the first time, Ludvig Aberg excelled with a 66.

Every major tournament is something new for the rising Swedish star.

A professional for just one year, Aberg finished second at Augusta.

Bryson DeChambeau and Matthieu Pavon shot 67. DeChambeau finished second at the PGA Championship last month.

Sergio Garcia (69) had the other round bogey-free – 17 pars and a birdie. This is his 25th consecutive participation in the event.

“There’s always someone for whom everything works like clockwork,” Garcia said. But I think as the course gets firmer and faster, it’s going to be hard to achieve that kind of score. »

Cantlay has only four top-10 finishes in 26 major tournaments since 2017, the year he returned to action after a serious back injury.

“I worked really hard on my game,” Cantlay said. Generally, if you make a few changes and work really hard, it becomes a matter of time before you have success. »

Xander Schauffele, winner of last month’s PGA Championship, started the tournament with a 70. Same thing for Colin Morikawa, who played in the final group in the first two major tournaments of the year.

Morikawa made two double bogeys, but finished his round with a 30-foot putt for birdie at the 18th.

Canadians competing are Corey Conners (69), Taylor Pendrith (71), Mackenzie Hughes (72), Adam Svensson (73), Adam Hadwin (74), Nick Taylor (74) and Ashton McCulloch (75).