PINEHURST, NORTH CAROLINA – JUNE 10: Taisei Shimizu of Japan signs his autograph for a young fan during a practice round prior to the U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort on June 10, 2024 in Pinehurst, North Carolina. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
The atmosphere on Pinehurst No. 2 was remarkably relaxed Monday for the first day of practice rounds for the 2024 U.S. Open. It's not likely to stay that way.
As the week kicked off, some familiar faces lined the practice greens and worked their way through the natural rough of the course. It's a fan's dream, as the players are far more accessible during these first couple of days. They'll stop and sign autographs here and there, without the pressure of competition yet weighing them down.
Much of the setup for the course is the same this year as it was during the last U.S. Open here in 2014. Not everything (which we'll get into later in the week), but most of it. It made the Cradle of Golf in Pinehurst feel like a natural home for the U.S. Open.
The next 11 years will see the tournament come back two more times, as well, as it's a player and fan favorite experience.
Here's a look at some of the best images from Day 1 at Pinehurst. We'll have more for you all week long.
U.S. Open - Preview Day One
PINEHURST, NORTH CAROLINA - JUNE 10: Tiger Woods of the United States plays his shot from the 13th tee during a practice round prior to the U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort on June 10, 2024 in Pinehurst, North Carolina. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
U.S. Open - Preview Day One
PINEHURST, NORTH CAROLINA - JUNE 10: A detailed view of a tee marker is seen during a practice round prior to the U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort on June 10, 2024 in Pinehurst, North Carolina. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
U.S. Open - Preview Day One
PINEHURST, NORTH CAROLINA - JUNE 10: Richard Mansell of England plays a second shot on the first hole during a practice round prior to the U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort on June 10, 2024 in Pinehurst, North Carolina. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
U.S. Open - Preview Day One
PINEHURST, NORTH CAROLINA - JUNE 10: Taisei Shimizu of Japan signs his autograph for a young fan during a practice round prior to the U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort on June 10, 2024 in Pinehurst, North Carolina. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
U.S. Open - Preview Day One
PINEHURST, NORTH CAROLINA - JUNE 10: Wyndham Clark of the United States signs his autograph for a fan during a practice round prior to the U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort on June 10, 2024 in Pinehurst, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
U.S. Open - Preview Day One
PINEHURST, NORTH CAROLINA - JUNE 10: Robert MacIntyre of Scotland chips to the fifth green during a practice round prior to the U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort on June 10, 2024 in Pinehurst, North Carolina. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
U.S. Open - Preview Day One
PINEHURST, NORTH CAROLINA - JUNE 10: Brian Harman of the United States plays his shot from the fourth tee during a practice round prior to the U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort on June 10, 2024 in Pinehurst, North Carolina. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
U.S. Open - Preview Day One
PINEHURST, NORTH CAROLINA - JUNE 10: Tommy Fleetwood of England prepares to play from a bunker on the third hole during a practice round prior to the U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort on June 10, 2024 in Pinehurst, North Carolina. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
U.S. Open - Preview Day One
PINEHURST, NORTH CAROLINA - JUNE 10: Edoardo Molinari of Italy plays a shot from a bunker on the sixth hole during a practice round prior to the U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort on June 10, 2024 in Pinehurst, North Carolina. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
U.S. Open - Preview Day One
PINEHURST, NORTH CAROLINA - JUNE 10: Dustin Johnson of the United States walks to the fourth tee during a practice round prior to the U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort on June 10, 2024 in Pinehurst, North Carolina. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
U.S. Open - Preview Day One
PINEHURST, NORTH CAROLINA - JUNE 10: Robert MacIntyre of Scotland plays a shot from a bunker on the second hole during a practice round prior to the U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort on June 10, 2024 in Pinehurst, North Carolina. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
U.S. Open - Preview Day One
PINEHURST, NORTH CAROLINA - JUNE 10: Tiger Woods (R) of the United States and son Charlie Woods (L) look on from the 18th green during a practice round prior to the U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort on June 10, 2024 in Pinehurst, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
U.S. Open - Preview Day One
PINEHURST, NORTH CAROLINA - JUNE 10: Tommy Fleetwood of England plays a shot from a bunker on the third hole during a practice round prior to the U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort on June 10, 2024 in Pinehurst, North Carolina. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
U.S. Open - Preview Day One
PINEHURST, NORTH CAROLINA - JUNE 10: (L-R) Bryson DeChambeau of the United States and Xander Schauffele of the United States fist bump on the first green during a practice round prior to the U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort on June 10, 2024 in Pinehurst, North Carolina. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
