They tried to tell us. That you don't attack Pinehurst No 2 as much as survive it. That its signature slippery greens shaped like inverted saucers are "borderline" in terms of fairness. That there will be blood.
Someone forgot to tell Patrick Cantlay. The 32-year-old Californian, dogged by inconsistency all year long, was the early clubhouse leader on day one after signing for a 65 to match the lowest round ever shot in a US Open at Pinehurst, where America's national championship is being staged for the fourth time since 1999.
Cantlay, who teed off on the 10th, negotiated the back nine in one under par before picking up shots on the 1st, 5th, 6th and 8th, flying through the tape in the opening term of professional golf's most difficult test.
When you consider that a total of four players managed to finish under par across the previous three US Opens staged here, Cantlay's scorching finish raised eyebrows - and he wasn't the only fast starter.
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