Xander Schauffele became a major champion for the first time when he won the PGA Championship in May. Could his friend Patrick Cantlay be next?
Cantlay finished the first round of the U.S. Open tied atop the leaderboard at 5 under par, achieving real success on a course that didn't allow much of it Thursday. The 32-year-old posted six birdies and only one bogey, putting himself in position to contend at Pinehurst into Friday and beyond.
Solid start today- excited for the rest of the week. @usopengolf pic.twitter.com/wT6fO3yRu3
— Patrick Cantlay (@patrick_cantlay) June 13, 2024
Leading after round one doesn't often mean too much, but it did for Schauffele at the PGA Championship. The veteran golfer was able to ride that cushion all the way to a victory by Sunday evening in what would be the biggest moment of his career.
Cantlay is aiming to follow in the footsteps of one of his closest friends and do the same at the U.S. Open.
Here's a closer look at the connection between Cantlay and Schauffele.
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Patrick Cantlay-Xander Schauffele connection, explained
Cantlay and Schauffele have been close friends since 2019, with Schauffele even taking on the role of best man at Cantlay's wedding. It all started at the 2019 Presidents Cup, when Fred Couples suggested the two golfers play together while representing the United States.
Cantlay and Schauffele have been "inseparable" since that point, according to PGATour.com.
"We really became friends that week in Australia," Cantlay said in February, adding that Schauffele's move to Florida — where Cantlay lives — helped the two become even closer.
Schauffele, meanwhile, praised Cantlay's kindness when talking about the friendship during February's Genesis Invitational.
"He comes across really quiet at times, but he's a really thoughtful friend and he does reach out to me when we're on different sides of the coast just to check in and see how I'm doing," Schauffele said.
Cantlay and Schauffele wound up as a Sunday pairing at the 2024 Genesis Invitational, giving the two friends a rare opportunity to truly compete for a win head-to-head. Hideki Matsuyama would end up winning the event, but the opportunity to play alongside one another in such a pivotal moment was undoubtedly special for both players.
Given Cantlay's early success at the U.S. Open and Schauffele's long track record of major contention, it might not be long until the two are competing against each other at one of the biggest events on the golf calendar. Schauffele is certainly hoping that Cantlay can be the one who reaches the pinnacle this time if a win for himself isn't in the cards.
MORE: Inside Xander Schauffele's majors history
Has Patrick Cantlay ever won a major?
Cantlay hasn't won a major yet in his career despite top-10 finishes at three of the four tournaments.
Cantlay, 32, does have eight PGA Tour wins to his name and, like Schauffele, 30, has a pretty strong track record in majors. But win No. 1 still eludes him.
He's missed the cut just four times in a major in 29 appearances, even dating back to his time as an amateur. He has four career top-10 finishes in a major, with his closest call coming at the 2019 PGA Championship when he finished tied for third on the leaderboard.
If anyone can coach Cantlay through how to go from disappointment to the ultimate success in a major, it's Schauffele. Schauffele is two years younger, but he had a stunning 12 top-10 finishes without a victory until he finally won the PGA Championship in May.
Three of the last four major champions have been first-time winners, dating back to Wyndham Clark at last year's U.S. Open. If a fourth first-time winner in five tries is going to emerge at Pinehurst, it's going to take a colossal effort considering how tough the course is playing. Based on the first round, though, Cantlay looks like he has a real chance to make it happen.
