PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Despite hitting two shots in the ocean Thursday and taking two shots to get out of one bunker, Phil Mickelson never made worse than bogey.
That’s not bad at the U.S. Open.
Despite giving himself a half- dozen chances inside 12 feet, Mickelson didn’t make a single birdie.
“Horrific,” he said.
Mickelson’s bid to turn silver into gold at the U.S. Open, where he already has a record five runner-up finishes, got off to a start he didn’t expect at Pebble Beach. Failing to make a birdie for the first time in three years on the PGA Tour, Mickelson had a 4- over-par 75 for his highest opening round at the U.S. Open in 13 years.
“It’s just frustrating because I came in here prepared. I came in here ready,” Mickelson said. “I hit a lot of good shots (Thursday). I gave myself a lot of birdie opportunities. And I putted terrible.”
In his final chance at a birdie, Mickelson’s 25-foot putt dropped toward the right side of the cup and needed one more turn to fall.
Instead, it rolled back toward him, and Mickelson turned and stared in disbelief at the Pacific Ocean behind the ninth green.
Fourteen pars. Four bogeys. No birdies.
Micheel has dying mom on mind.
Shaun Micheel will drop his clubs and walk right out of this U.S. Open if his dying mother needs him by her side back home in Memphis, Tenn.
Winning or not, it won’t matter.
While Micheel doesn’t expect to have to make an early exit from Pebble Beach, his mom isn’t supposed to live much past August, if that long. Donna Micheel’s lung cancer has spread to her brain, liver, lungs and spine.
The next milestone would be her 64th birthday July 2. She already made it to Mother’s Day and then her 42nd wedding anniversary June 8.
Nobody would blame Micheel if his mind was far from golf and the Open this week. Yet his mom wants him right here, playing the sport he loves. Micheel shot a 2-under 69 for a share of the lead.
“It’s nice because I’m playing for someone else,” he said, his voice halting with emotion. “It’s always been about me, me, me. That doesn’t matter to me anymore.”
