After limping off the ninth green at The Country Club outside Boston on Friday, the good news for Phil Mickelson is that he won’t have to worry about missing the cut in his next start in two weeks.
Mickelson didn’t accomplish that at the 122nd US Open, though he did improve in the second round on Friday. He shot a 3-over 73, bringing his 36-hole total to 11 over. When he walked off the course, he was tied for 143rd place out of 156 players.
“The week was enjoyable for me. I just wish I’d done a better job, “Mickelson said afterward, before leaving the club in a courtesy SUV with his squad.
Mickelson, a six-time major champion, was playing in his first tournament since late January in the United States. PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan has penalized 17 players indefinitely for competing in the inaugural LIV Golf Invitational Series event in London last week without a conflicting-event release.
Mickelson, 52, expects to compete in the inaugural LIV Golf event in the United States, which will be held at Pumpkin Ridge in Portland, Oregon, from June 30 to July 2. There are no cuts, shotgun starts, or $25 million purses in the LIV tournaments.
Mickelson’s 36-hole score of 11 over par was tied for seventh-worst in his career in a major title.
After 36 holes at the 2020 U.S. Open at Winged Foot and the 1999 Open Championship at Carnoustie, he was 13 over, and 12 over at the 1994 and 2021 Open Championships.
Mickelson had birdies on the par-4 fifth and par-3 sixth holes to go back to 10 over after a bogey on the fourth hole placed him to 12 over.
Mickelson got off to a better start on Friday after battling to hole 8-over 78 in the first round. He started on the back nine with three consecutive pars before making bogeys on the next three holes. On the par-4 13th, he made a 3-putt bogey.
Mickelson slashed his ball with a 3-wood on the fairway on the next hole, a 616-yard par-5 monster. “Way left!” he said as he raised his left arm. He landed his third shot in a greenside bunker and made another bogey putt.
Mickelson remarked, “It was amazing to return to such a historic course, and I thought the setup was remarkable and emphasized what a special site this was.”
Mickelson earned a standing ovation from the crowd.
“The crowds here have always been fantastic,” Mickelson remarked, “and they truly support all sports.” “I enjoy it when we bring golf here because it creates such a unique environment.”
