McIlroy makes charge at US Open leader Cantlay

Rory McIlroy, chasing his first major victory in a decade, made a charge in Thursday’s first round of the US Open, trying to overtake clubhouse leader Patrick Cantlay at Pinehurst.

World No 3 McIlroy rolled a 67-foot birdie putt up a huge slope and into the hole at the par-5 fifth after sinking a seven-foot birdie at the fourth to stand 2-under at the turn.

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The 35-year-old, four-time major winner from Northern Ireland has not won a major since the 2014 PGA Championship but was second in last year’s US Open, his fifth top-10 effort in a row at the US Open with each better than the last.