WASHINGTON — Family man Phil Mickelson, typically bold and unconventional in his tournament build-up, thrilled his fans by taking the clubhouse lead in the weather-delayed first round of the US Open on Thursday.
Reuters
Despite having arrived at Merion Golf Club in the early hours of the morning after an overnight flight from his native California, Mickelson soared into contention at the year’s second major with a three-under-par 67.
Play was eventually abandoned for the day in fading light just before 8:30pm (0030 GMT), following two earlier suspensions totalling four-and-a-quarter hours, with world No 6 Luke Donald leading at four under par after 13 holes.
“I feel like I’m in pretty good control of my game, and it’s nice to get off to such a good start,” Englishman Donald told reporters after making three consecutive birdies from the 11th, a curling nine-footer at the 13th giving him the outright lead.
Donald, a former world No 1 who has yet to clinch his first major title, was delighted to take advantage of a rain-softened Merion where there was very little wind, but thick rough lying in wait as its main defence.
“You can attack the pins a little bit more, so it’s playing as gentle as it might play so far,” he said. “Today was a good day.
I’ve got five holes left and five pretty tough ones to finish.” Masters champion Adam Scott was at three under after 11 holes while tournament favourite Tiger Woods, whose left wrist appeared to cause him pain on at least three occasions when playing out of the rough, was at two over after 10 holes.
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Left-hander Mickelson, who carried five wedges, but no driver in his bag to tackle Merion’s short East Course, mixed four birdies with a lone bogey after setting off from the 11th hole in the second group of the day.
Mickelson equaled his lowest ever opening round at the US Open, having previously fired a 67 at the start of the 1999 championship at Pinehurst where he finished in second place.
“Pretty good, a good start,” Mickelson said after making do with just a few hours of sleep on his private jet while returning from San Diego where he had attended his oldest daughter Amanda’s eighth grade graduation ceremony.
“I might have used just a little caffeine booster at the turn, just to keep me sharp, but that was our ninth hole or so and I just wanted to make sure I had enough energy. I feel great.”
Long-hitting Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts opened with a 69 while former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel, fellow South African Tim Clark, Australian Jason Day and Americans Jerry Kelly and Rickie Fowler carded 70s.
Kelly had been just one stroke behind Mickelson before slipping back with a double-bogey at the tricky par-four 18th. Long-hitting Americans Bubba Watson and Dustin Johnson, and English world No 5 Justin Rose, were among a group of 10 players knotted on 71.
