Phil Mickelson's Chambers Bay opener a microcosm for his U.S. Open quest
UNIVERSITY PLACE, Wash. – Phil Mickelson knows all too well about missed opportunities at the U.S. Open.
Mickelson's opening-round, 1-under 69 on Thursday at this first U.S. Open at Chambers Bay was a microcosm of the quarter-century-long struggle the left-hander hopes to end this week. Like Mickelson's U.S. Open career, which features a record six runner-up finishes, the 69 could have been so much better.
Last Sunday, Mickelson said he could have shaved five shots off a slick 65 to close in Memphis. He could have found that same handful of shots in this round. While Mickelson had trouble finding fairways that even he, a lousy driver of the ball, considers generous, he found himself in position time and again to make birdies. Early on in the round, Mickelson converted several of those opportunities, making three birdies in his first eight holes to, once again, hold the lead in the U.S. Open. However, he left several birdies on the table, too, including a missed chance at the difficult par-4 seventh.
Perhaps it was frustration, maybe fatigue, but Mickelson almost let a good round get away from him on the back nine. He bogeyed three of the first five holes of the side against just one birdie in the stretch.
The final bogey of the day could have been the nail in the coffin, with Mickelson flying left off the tee and into the bunker at the par-4 14th. He made poor contact from the sand, going from one bunker to another. Lefty barely held the green with his third and, after scaring the hole with his 45-foot par bid, needed to curl in a testy left-to-right putt to salvage bogey. Mickelson delivered a fist pump as the ball sank into the hole. It was Mickelson's brand of clutch: keeping it together before it all falls apart and finding it just when it seems all is lost.
"The one on 14 was a good bogey; I'll gladly take that," Mickelson said later.
However, that bogey to keep him on the happy side of par didn't translate into an inspired finish. He had his chances, with birdie putts on the final four holes, including three he nearly made. In the end, it was another case of Almost for Mickelson at a U.S. Open. As his playing partners wrapped up on the 18th hole, Mickelson stared off in the distance, likely with thought of what could have been.
Looking back on it afterward, Mickelson, in his typical optimistic tone, seemed more pleased with his score.
"I'm very pleased with the way the round went," he said. "I hit a lot of good shots today. I shot under par the first day of the U.S. Open."
Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.
