LA JOLLA, Calif. — Phil Mickelson put his driver back into his golf bag for Saturday’s third round of the U.S. Open, but he might have been better served trying to find a rescue club.
The co-star along with Tiger Woods in the days leading up to the tournament, Mickelson, the world’s second-ranked player, was decidedly shoved off the grand stage on Saturday. First, there was Woods’ absolutely spectacular back nine, which featured two eagles and a birdie. That came long after Mickelson had limped home with a 5-over-par 76.
“I’m certainly disappointed that I’m not in the mix right now. That was the goal,” said Mickelson, who dropped to a tie for 47th place at 9-over for the tournament. “Now, I’m going to come out (today) and enjoy my final round.”
Be like Phil.
Mickelson nearly ran afoul of the United States Golf Association before last year’s Open when he talked about wearing a wrist brace during play before actually clearing it with the organization that runs the event.
This year, Brandt Jobe didn’t make the same mistake. At times this week, he’s donned an Ace bandage-like number to help support playing through a lingering injury to his left wrist.
“I had to send the USGA pictures of it and everything,” Jobe said Saturday.
And when exactly does Jobe use it?
“It depends,” he said. “If I hit the ball in the fairway, I don’t. But if the ball goes into the rough, it’s coming out.”
Psych job.
After complaining before the tournament that the greens at Torrey Pines were so bad he’d likely never play there again, D.J. Trahan has shot 72-69-73 to move into a tie for fourth place entering the final round. Trahan said his outburst was a way to motivate himself for the Open.
Momentum missing.
Major champions Padraig Harrington and Retief Goosen may have felt they had an outside chance to win another after shooting 67 and 69 respectively on Friday. But after a pair of 77s on Saturday, there were likely no further illusions.
Anthony Cotton, The Denver Post
