The skies above Pebble Beach Golf Links for most of Thursday’s first round were gray, but the leaderboard featured a different hue, one players aren’t typically accustomed to seeing at the U.S. Open: Red.

As Rory McIlroy climbed the hill to the 18th tee at Bethpage Black, he turned to caddie Harry Diamond and said, "I can't remember the last time I played a round of golf without a birdie. I was like, I better birdie this last hole."