McIlroy, Cantlay lead U.S. Open after Round 1; Panthers push Oilers to the brink with Game 3 win

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Good morning everyone, but especially…

PATRICK CANTLAY AND RORY MCILROY

Patrick Cantlay It is Rory McIlroy are looking at the rest of the leaderboard after the first round of 2024 US Open in Pinehurst. Both golfers shot 65 on Thursday, good for 5 under and first place on Friday.

Cantlay has never won a major in his career and has never finished higher than 14th at the US Open. He is already in uncharted territory as this is the first time he has been in the top five of a major after 18 holes.

It’s a good start for Cantlay, but he still has a lot of work to do with a scary company around him at the top of the leaderboard. This includes McIlroy, who is trying a more “stoic” approach nowadays.

• McIlroy: “I think with my demeanor, I’m just trying to be super stoic. Just trying to be as level-headed as possible. I really feel like that’s what has served me well at these U.S. Opens the last few years. Just trying to be 100% committed.” with the pitches and 100% committed to having a good attitude.”

While Cantlay tries to win his first major, McIlroy tries to earn his first major victory in 10 years. McIlroy is on track to four major wins since he won The Open Championship in 2014.

Heading into the second round of the US Open, the top of the leaderboard looks like this:

T-1. Patrick Cantlay (-5)
T-1. Rory McIlroy (-5)
3. Ludvig Åberg (-4)
T-4. Matthieu Pavón (-3)
T-4. Bryson DeChambeau (-3)

About that, Tiger Woods is just trying to make the cut after shooting 74 in the first round. Woods is tied for 78th at 4 over, and he is just one stroke away from the projected cut line for the second round.

Honorable mentions

And it’s not such a good day for…

THE EDMONTON OILERS

O Lubricators entered this Stanley Cup Final just four wins away from their first championship since 1990… and they’re still four wins away after a 4-3 loss to the Panthers in game 3.

It was an all too familiar story for the Oilers on Thursday night. They outscored the Panthers 35-23, but made too many catastrophic mistakes to pull out a win.

To make matters worse, Edmonton’s strengths should be high-end skill at the top of the lineup and a lethal power play. So far, none of those things have manifested in this series.

• Connor McDavid has yet to score, despite having had 14 shots on goal.
• Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman It is Ryan Nugent-Hopkins combined for zero points.
• Edmonton’s vaunted power play is now 0-10 in the series.

In goal, Stuart Skinner returned to its final pre-conference state. In the Stanley Cup Final, Skinner posted a .868 savings percentage it is a 3.08 GAA. It’s too late for the Oilers to give Calvin Pickard a shot on net?

Edmonton now faces a 3-0 deficit that has only been overcome by four teams in NHL history. The only team to climb out of a 3-0 hole in the finals, the Toronto Maple Leafs, did so 82 years ago in 1942.

Not-so-honorable mentions

Trevor Lawrence receives scholarship from Jags

Everyone is a little more excited on Friday morning, but Trevor Lawrence Have some extra spring in your step today. That’s because he signed a record contract worth US$275 million as Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday night.

Lawrence’s contract binds him to Joe Burrow as the highest-paid quarterback in NFL history. He also becomes the fourth quarterback in NFL history with at least $200 million in guaranteed money, joining Burrow, Deshaun WatsonIt is Justin Herbert.

Here are the five highest-paid quarterbacks in the NFL after Lawrence’s massive deal:

1. Trevor Lawrence | US$55 million per year
two. Joe Burrow | US$55 million per year
3. Jared Goff | US$53 million per year
4. Justin Herbert | US$52.5 million per year
5. Lamar Jackson | US$52 million per year

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Lawrence already ranks fourth in Jaguars history in passing yards (11,770) and passing touchdowns (58). Lawrence also led Jacksonville to the divisional round of the playoffs in the 2022 season.

Despite some early success, Lawrence had some difficulties taking care of football. His 21 giveaways led the NFL last season, and his 21 lost fumbles were tied for the most by any player in his first three seasons.

These turnarounds are easier to swallow with a quarterback on a rookie contract. However, Lawrence’s performance doesn’t stack up well when compared to other high-paid quarterbacks.

Dan Hurley goes in-depth on CBS Sports

After flirting with Los Angeles Lakers, Dan Hurley chose to remain UConn and is seeking a third consecutive national championship.

The decision was difficult for Hurley, and he gave CBS Sports some insight into his thought process. The Huskies head coach sat down with our own Matt Norlander for a Wide-ranging discussion on everything from his visit to the Lakers to a Billy Joel concert.

One aspect of Lakers camp that really appealed to Hurley was the opportunity to coach LeBron Jamesbut the basketball world will never see this unique combination.

• Hurley: “That was one of the advantages. It was one of the attractions, it was the chance, during his lifetime, to have coached one of the greatest players of all time. I am very confident that my work ethic, my experience and my ability to Connecting with him would have created a great partnership there.”

Here are some more key points from Hurley’s CBS Sports interview:

• Hurley denied the idea that it was all a ploy to gain more leverage in negotiations with UConn.
• Alex Karabanthe decision to return to UConn for another year factored into Hurley’s decision.
• The Huskies coach compared his experience to being on the The Truman Show.

Big 12 Conference mulling historic naming rights deal

If you like the abandonment of tradition in favor of big-money corporate partnerships, you might be the one. Big 12 Conference.

As reported by our own Brandon Marcello, the Big 12 is exploring the possibility of selling its naming rights to a corporate sponsor. The conference would eliminate the word “Big” and replace it with the sponsor’s name, keeping “12” in the name.

A Big 12 source admitted to CBS Sports that the conference is trying to keep up with financial giants like the SEC It is Big Tenwho have ripped off Big 12 member institutions in recent years.

• Marcelo: “Private equity and naming rights are among a variety of commercial opportunities the league is exploring to close the gap between the Big 12 and the Big Ten and the SEC, and to maintain the highest level of competitiveness.”

The Big 12 are also considering a private equity investment this would yield up to $1 billion in exchange for a 15% to 20% stake in the conference. The deal would be another way for member schools to compete with the Big Ten and SEC in the financial arms race.

What are we going to watch this weekend

Well, the US Open, of course. see how to see the Pinehurst play and the rest of the weekend’s action.

Friday

CWS: Virginia in North Carolina2pm on ESPN
CWS: Florida State of Tennessee7pm on ESPN
NBA Finals – Game 4: Celtics x Mavericks8:30pm on ABC

Saturday

Sun on the wings1pm on CBS
Freedom in Aces2pm on ABC
CWS: State of North Carolina in Kentucky2pm on ESPN
BIG3: Week 1, 4pm on CBS
CWS: Florida at Texas A&M7pm on ESPN
Yankees at Red Sox7:15 pm on Fox
Stanley Cup Final – Game 4: Panthers at Oilers8pm on ABC

Sunday

Sky in fever12pm on CBS
Iowa Corn 3507pm on USA Network
Yankees at Red Sox7pm on ESPN