McIlroy and Cantlay take early lead in U.S. Open; Panthers gain advantage over Oilers with Game 3 victory

rory-mcilroy-getty.jpg
Getty

This is an article version of the CBS Sports HQ AM Newsletter, the ultimate guide to every day in sports. You can sign up to get it in your inbox every weekday morning here.


🏌 Good morning to everyone, but especially to …

PATRICK CANTLAY AND RORY MCILROY

Patrick Cantlay and Rory McIlroy are looking down at the rest of the leaderboard following Round 1 of the 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst. Both golfers shot a 65 on Thursday, good for 5-under and first place heading into Friday.

Cantlay has never won a major tournament in his career, and he’s never finished higher than 14th in the U.S. Open. He is already in unfamiliar territory as this is the first time he’s ever been inside 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 some daunting company right around him at the top of the leaderboard. That includes McIlroy, who is trying out a more “stoic” approach these days.

  • McIlroy: “I think, with my demeanor, just trying to be super stoic. Just trying to be as even-keeled as I possibly can be. I really feel like that’s the thing that has served me well in these U.S. Opens over the past few years. Just trying to be 100% committed to the shots and 100% committed to having a good attitude.”

While Cantlay is trying to win his first major, McIlroy is trying to notch his first major tournament victory in 10 years. McIlroy has been stuck on four major wins since he won at The Open Championship in 2014.

Heading into Round 2 of the U.S. Open, the top of the leaderboard looks like this:

T-1. Patrick Cantlay (-5)
T-1. Rory McIlroy (-5)
3. Ludvig Γ…berg (-4)
T-4. Matthieu Pavon (-3)
T-4. Bryson DeChambeau (-3)

Meanwhile, Tiger Woods is just trying to make the cut after shooting a 74 in Round 1. Woods is tied for 78th at 4-over, and he’s just one stroke off the projected cutline heading into Round 2.

πŸ‘ Honorable mentions

πŸ’ And not such a good morning for …


Getty Images

THE EDMONTON OILERS

The Oilers entered this Stanley Cup Final just four wins away from their first championship since 1990 … and they are still four wins away following a 4-3 loss to the Panthers in Game 3.

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

To make matters worse, Edmonton’s strengths were supposed to be high-end skill at the top of the lineup and a lethal power play. So far, neither of those things have manifested in this series.

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

In goal, Stuart Skinner has reverted to his pre-conference final self. In the Stanley Cup Final, Skinner has posted a .868 save percentage and a 3.08 GAA. Is it too late for the Oilers to give Calvin Pickard a shot in net?

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

πŸ‘Ž Not so honorable mentions

🏈 Trevor Lawrence gets the bag from the Jags


Getty Images

Everyone’s a little more chipper on Friday morning, but Trevor Lawrence has some extra pep in his step today. That’s because he signed a record-tying $275 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday evening.

Lawrence’s contract ties him with 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 Watson, and Justin Herbert.

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

1. Trevor Lawrence | $55 million per year
2. Joe Burrow | $55 million per year
3. Jared Goff | $53 million per year
4. Justin Herbert | $52.5 million per year
5. Lamar Jackson | $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 has had some struggles taking care of the football. His 21 giveaways led the NFL last season, and his 21 fumbles lost are tied for the most by any player in his first three seasons.

Those turnovers are easier to swallow with a quarterback on a rookie deal. However, Lawrence’s performance doesn’t stack up well when compared to other highly-paid quarterbacks.

πŸ€ Dan Hurley goes in-depth with CBS Sports


Getty Images

After flirting with the Los Angeles Lakers, Dan Hurley has chosen to remain at UConn and go for a third straight national championship.

The decision was a difficult one 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 about everything from his Lakers visit to a Billy Joel concert.

One aspect of the Lakers’ pitch that really appealed to Hurley was the opportunity to coach LeBron James, but the basketball world won’t ever get to see that unique combination.

  • Hurley: “That was one of the pluses. It was one of the draws, was the chance, in your lifetime, to have coached one of the greatest players of all time. I have a lot of confidence that my work ethic and my expertise and my ability to connect with him would have made for a great partnership there.”

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

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

🏈 Big 12 Conference mulling historic naming rights deal


Getty Images

If you like the abandonment of tradition in favor of big-money corporate partnerships, you might be the 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 drop the word “Big” and replace it with the name of the sponsor while keeping “12” in the name.

One Big 12 source admitted to CBS Sports that the conference is trying to keep up with financial juggernauts like the SEC and Big Ten, which have poached member institutions from the Big 12 in recent years.

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

The Big 12 is also considering a private equity investment that would bring in as much as $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.

πŸ“Ί What we’re watching this weekend

Well, the U.S. Open, of course. Here’s how to view the play from Pinehurst and the rest of the weekend’s action.

Friday

⚾ CWS: Virginia at North Carolina, 2 p.m. on ESPN
⚾ CWS: Florida State at Tennessee, 7 p.m. on ESPN
πŸ€ NBA Finals — Game 4: Celtics at Mavericks, 8:30 p.m. on ABC

Saturday

πŸ€ Sun at Wings, 1 p.m. on CBS
πŸ€ Liberty at Aces, 2 p.m. on ABC
⚾ CWS: NC State at Kentucky, 2 p.m. on ESPN
πŸ€ BIG3: Week 1, 4 p.m. on CBS
⚾ CWS: Florida at Texas A&M, 7 p.m. on ESPN
⚾ Yankees at Red Sox, 7:15 p.m. on Fox
πŸ’ Stanley Cup Final — Game 4: Panthers at Oilers, 8 p.m. on ABC

Sunday

πŸ€ Sky at Fever, 12 p.m. on CBS
🏎 Iowa Corn 350, 7 p.m. on USA Network
⚾ Yankees at Red Sox, 7 p.m. on ESPN

Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay have surged to the top of the leaderboard in the U.S. Open after impressive performances in the opening rounds of the prestigious golf tournament. McIlroy, a four-time major champion, and Cantlay, a rising star on the PGA Tour, have both showcased their skills and composure under pressure to take an early lead at Torrey Pines Golf Course.

McIlroy, who has struggled to find his best form in recent years, appears to be back to his best as he navigated the challenging course with precision and confidence. The Northern Irishman’s solid ball-striking and clutch putting have been key to his success so far, and he will be looking to maintain his momentum as the tournament progresses.

Cantlay, on the other hand, has been a model of consistency throughout the season and continued his strong play at the U.S. Open. The American golfer’s accurate iron play and steady putting have helped him stay near the top of the leaderboard, and he will be eager to capitalize on his early success and contend for his first major championship.

Meanwhile, in the world of ice hockey, the Florida Panthers have gained a crucial advantage over the Edmonton Oilers with a Game 3 victory in their playoff series. The Panthers, led by their dynamic duo of Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau, put on a dominant performance to secure a 4-1 win and take a 2-1 series lead.

Barkov and Huberdeau have been instrumental in the Panthers’ success this season, with their skillful playmaking and goal-scoring abilities proving to be a handful for opposing teams. In Game 3 against the Oilers, the duo once again stepped up when it mattered most, combining for three goals and two assists to lead their team to victory.

The Panthers’ strong defensive play and stellar goaltending from Sergei Bobrovsky have also been key factors in their success against the high-powered Oilers offense. With momentum on their side, the Panthers will be looking to build on their Game 3 win and continue their push towards a deep playoff run.

Overall, both McIlroy and Cantlay in the U.S. Open and the Panthers in the NHL playoffs have shown that they have what it takes to compete at the highest level and make a run at championship glory. It will be exciting to see how their respective journeys unfold in the coming days and weeks.