As Rory McIlroy couldn't figure it out on the No. 2 greens at Pinehurst at the US Open on Sunday, his final-round partner Patrick Cantlay was trying to stay in contention for the first major victory of his career.
Cantlay, the leader after a 4-under first round on Thursday, was unable to increase his lead in the second and third rounds, leaving him chasing eventual winner Bryson DeChambeau on Sunday. And it wasn't just the greens that were hostile to McIlroy: the entire field had trouble dealing with Pinehurst all week.
“It's definitely unique because the most challenging part of the golf course is the green complexes,” Cantlay told Fox News Digital ahead of the PGA Tour's next stop: the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut. “The hole locations were difficult. At the end of the day, there were a lot of people walking around the greens and they were very fast. The hole locations were on a lot of slope, so it's a challenge when having those short putts.”
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Patrick Cantlay of the United States acknowledges the crowd on the ninth green during the first round of the 124th U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort on June 13, 2024 in Pinehurst, North Carolina. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Cantlay finished third at Pinehurst, which was still a fantastic finish despite failing to lift the trophy.
However, Cantlay has not been considered a tournament winner since August 21, 2022, when he took home the BMW Championship. He is eighth in the world golf rankings after finishing last week, 10th in the FedEx Cup rankings and owns three top-10 finishes this season.
Simply put, Cantlay is one of the best on Tour and has been for quite some time. However, he is eager to get back to the winner's circle and feels his game is in the right place to do so on a field he has dominated since he was an amateur.
BRYSON DECHAMBEAU WINS 124TH US OPEN, DEFEATS RORY MCILROY BY 1 HIT IN EXCITING FINAL
The Travelers Championship is an event Cantlay looks forward to every year because he knows how to get the job done at TPC River Highlands.
“Travelers is always one of my favorite events of the year,” he said. “They do a fantastic job. I think it's maybe the event I've played the most on Tour. I think I've played it seven or eight, maybe even nine times. The course is in the best shape I've ever played. I've “I've seen it. They've made some small adjustments to the golf course that I've seen, which I think will be improvements. The course is really in fantastic condition and, with the weather, I hope we don't have any storms.”
At the time of writing, thunderstorms are forecast for Friday and Saturday as a heat wave moves through the Northeast. But rain at Cromwell is something Cantlay has seen in the past, and it worked in his favor in 2011 when he shot a 60, which remains the lowest score by an amateur in PGA Tour history. At the time, it was also the course record until Jim Furyk broke it with 58 in 2016.
Patrick Cantlay of the United States lines up a putt on the 10th during the final round of the 2024 US Open Championship on The Pinehurst Resort No.2 Course on June 16, 2024 in Pinehurst, North Carolina. (David Cannon/Getty Images)
“My game is in a good place,” Cantlay said. “I'm not sure the weather would cooperate the year I shot 60. It rained all day before; actually, it rained on Thursday. So the golf course was soft and reachable. With the forecast, I imagine “It's going to be pretty tough compared to that year and this year, but I feel good about my game, especially last week and I'm looking forward to it.”
Cantlay has finished in the top 15 or better in each of his last six starts at TPC River Highlands, including a tied fourth-place finish at last year's Travelers Championship.
And after tricky putting surfaces last week, where he and caddy Joe LaCava may have had trouble reading the greens, Cantlay says he'll “take advantage of the experience and good play” to putt low.
While putts, especially those that circle the scoreboard, are always the goal on Tour, Cantlay explained that fairways, especially in the rain and a rough length, will be crucial to being in contention.
“I think the rough is pretty long this week, and with the greens firm, or what I expect to be firm based on the forecast, I think it will be important to play from the fairway,” he said. “This golf course this week gives you some opportunities if you do it. I think if I handle the ball well, I should have a chance.”
Patrick Cantlay of the United States hits a tee shot on the 16th hole during the final round of the 124th U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort on June 16, 2024 in Pinehurst, North Carolina. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
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Despite the result, if last week is any indication of Cantlay's play heading into this year's Travelers Championship, he should be among the favorites to take a win.
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