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A Bridesmaid Five Times, Mickelson Hopes His Big Day Is Here A Five-Time Runner-Up, Mickelson Leads Open After Three Rounds
(about 1 hour later)
ARDMORE, Pa. — It took five and a half hours for Phil Mickelson to secure the pole position for Sunday’s United States Open finish, which was nothing compared with how long he has pined for a victory in this national championship.ARDMORE, Pa. — It took five and a half hours for Phil Mickelson to secure the pole position for Sunday’s United States Open finish, which was nothing compared with how long he has pined for a victory in this national championship.
Mickelson played his first United States Open as an amateur in 1990 and finished 29th. In 21 subsequent starts, he has finished runner-up a record five times. With an even-par round of 70 on Saturday, Mickelson took the 54-hole lead at Merion Golf Club at one-under 209. He is the only player under par. Mickelson played his first United States Open as an amateur in 1990 and finished 29th. In 21 subsequent starts, he finished as the runner-up a record five times. With an even-par round of 70 on Saturday, Mickelson took the 54-hole lead at Merion Golf Club at one-under-par 209. He was the only player under par.
Tied for second, one stroke behind Mickelson, is the trio of Hunter Mahan (69), Charl Schwartzel (69) and Steve Stricker (70), who is looking for his first major title in 59 starts. Tied for second, one stroke behind Mickelson, were Hunter Mahan (69), Charl Schwartzel (69) and Steve Stricker (70), who is looking for his first major title in 59 starts.
Only once before, in 2006 when Mickelson recorded one of his second-place finishes, has he held the 54-hole lead in this tournament. Only once before, in 2006, has Mickelson held the 54-hole lead in this tournament. He went on to finish second.
“For me, this is a tournament that I’ve wanted and has meant so much to me over the years and I’ve come so close over the years that it would be extra-special if I were able to finally capture one,” Mickelson told Sky Sports. “But I’ve got a lot of work ahead of me. It’s going to be a fun challenge. I’m really looking forward to it.” “For me, this is a tournament that I’ve wanted and has meant so much to me over the years, and I’ve come so close over the years that it would be extra special if I were able to finally capture one,” Mickelson told Sky Sports. “But I’ve got a lot of work ahead of me. It’s going to be a fun challenge. I’m really looking forward to it.”
For Mickelson, who will turn 43 on Sunday, and Stricker, 46, Father Time is perhaps their greatest foe. If Mickelson hears his competitive clock ticking, he’s not showing it. In his post-round interviews, he repeatedly used the word “fun,” which was not the norm. Most of his competitors emerged from the scoring trailer looking as if they had just gone 12 rounds with Rocky Balboa. For Mickelson, who turns 43 on Sunday, and Stricker, 46, Father Time is perhaps their greatest opponent. Still, if Mickelson hears his competitive clock ticking, he is not showing it. In his postround interviews, he repeatedly used the word “fun,” which was not the norm: most of his competitors emerged from the scoring trailer looking as if they had just been pummeled.
“I feel more equipped to tackle the U.S. Open setup than I ever have,” Mickelson said. “My ball striking’s better than it’s ever been. My putter feels terrific.”“I feel more equipped to tackle the U.S. Open setup than I ever have,” Mickelson said. “My ball striking’s better than it’s ever been. My putter feels terrific.”
The “While We’re Young” pace of play campaign initiated by the United States Golf Association – and invalidated by Saturday’s rounds, which were closer to six hours than five – could also be the mantra of the four amateurs who survived the 73-man cut. They were led by Michael Kim, the Cal-Berkeley standout who was named the Pac-12 men’s golfer of the year this past season as a sophomore. The pace-of-play campaign initiated by the United States Golf Association — and ignored in Saturday’s rounds, which were closer to six hours than five — is called While We’re Young, and that could also be the mantra of the four amateurs who survived the 73-man cut. They were led by Michael Kim, the University of California standout who was named the Pacific-12 men’s golfer of the year this past season as a sophomore.
At 19, Kim is a year younger than the amateur Francis Ouimet was when he won the 1913 United States Open. With a third-round 71, he gave himself an outside chance to mark the 100th anniversary of Ouimet’s victory by matching it.At 19, Kim is a year younger than the amateur Francis Ouimet was when he won the 1913 United States Open. With a third-round 71, he gave himself an outside chance to mark the 100th anniversary of Ouimet’s victory by matching it.
Playing in his first United States Open, Kim arrived at the 16th hole two strokes off the lead. He was even par for the tournament and three-under for his round. In the scoring area, Webb Simpson, the defending United States Open champion, emerged from signing for his second consecutive 75 for a 54-hole total of 11-over, said, “If it was his first tournament on tour on an easy golf course it would be remarkable. To do it here on this golf course under this pressure is great.” Playing in his first United States Open, Kim arrived at the 16th hole two strokes off the lead. He was at even par for the tournament and three under for his round. In the scoring area, Webb Simpson, the defending United States Open champion, who signed for a second consecutive 75 to give him a 54-hole total of 11 over, said: “If it was his first tournament on tour on an easy golf course, it would be remarkable. To do it here on this golf course under this pressure is great.”
Kim stumbled down the stretch, finishing bogey-double bogey-bogey to stand at four-over 214. He need not beat himself up; the top seven players covered the final two holes in a combined 9-over. Kim stumbled down the stretch, closing with a bogey, a double bogey and a bogey to finish at four-over 214. He need not beat himself up: the top seven players covered the final two holes in a combined nine over.
“At the start of the week, I thought making the cut would be good,” said Kim, who admitted to taking several peeks at the scoreboards during his round. He added, “I thought it was super cool to see my name on that big leader board next to names like Schwartzel, Mickelson, all those guys.” “At the start of the week, I thought making the cut would be good,” said Kim, who admitted to taking several peeks at the scoreboards during his round. He added, “I thought it was supercool to see my name on that big leader board next to names like Schwartzel, Mickelson, all those guys.”
Justin Rose was two years younger than Kim in 1998 when he tied for fourth at the British Open as an amateur. He turned pro the next day – a move Jack Nicklaus recently counseled Kim not to make -- and experienced instant failure before finding his way. Justin Rose was two years younger in 1998 than Kim is now when he tied for fourth at the British Open as an amateur. He turned professional the next day — a move that Jack Nicklaus recently counseled Kim not to make — and experienced failure before finding his way.
A four-time PGA Tour winner, Rose, 32, is well-positioned for his first major championship in 37 starts. After a 71 he is tied for fifth at one-over 141 with Luke Donald (71). A four-time PGA Tour winner, Rose, 32, is well positioned to win his first major championship in 37 starts. After a 71, he was tied for fifth at one-over 211 with Luke Donald (71).
“The next thing missing from the resume is a major now, if you look at it,” Rose said, adding, “I feel like this week’s been a good learning curve for me. I’ve not stumbled, but I’ve worked.” “The next thing missing from the résumé is a major now, if you look at it,” Rose said, adding: “I feel like this week’s been a good learning curve for me. I’ve not stumbled, but I’ve worked.”
Sergio Garcia, 33, who finished second at the 1999 PGA Championship as a teenager, saw his championship hopes take a nosedive at the par-4 15th hole when he hit three balls out of bounds on his way to a 10. Garcia played the other 17 holes in one-under to post a 75 and a three-day total of plus-11. Sergio García, 33, who finished second at the 1999 P.G.A. Championship as a teenager, saw his championship hopes take a nose dive at the par-4 15th hole when he hit three balls out of bounds on his way to a 10. García played the other 17 holes in one under, posting a 75 and a three-day total of 11 over. “Funny enough,” García said ruefully, “I only hit one bad shot today, and I made a 10.”
“Funny enough,” Garcia said ruefully, “I only hit one bad shot today and I made a 10.” Mickelson knows what it is like to have his United States Open title hopes buried by a bad hole. In 2004, he briefly held a one-stroke lead with two holes to play, but he three-putted from 5 feet on the second-to-last hole for a bogey and finished behind Retief Goosen.
Mickelson knows what it is like to have his United States Open title hopes buried by a bad hole. In 2004 he briefly held a one-stroke lead with two holes to play but three-putted from five feet on the second-to-last hole for a bogey to finish behind Retief Goosen. In 2006, he had a one-stroke lead with one hole to play but hit a wild drive and a worse second shot on his way to a double bogey and a one-stroke loss to Geoff Ogilvy.
In 2006 he had a one-stroke lead with one hole to play, hit a wild drive and a worse second shot on his way to a double bogey and a one-stroke loss to Geoff Ogilvy. In 2009, he was tied for the lead with Lucas Glover with five holes to play but made two bogeys on the way in.
In 2009 he was tied for the lead with Lucas Glover five holes to play but made two bogeys on the way in to lose to Glover. In 2013, Mickelson can finally close out the victory he desires more than any other. He has Donald, Mahan, Schwartzel and Stricker nipping at his heels, but Mickelson’s steepest challenge could come from the memory loop in his head.
In 2013 will Mickelson finally close out the victory he desires more than any other? He has Donald, Mahan, Schwartzel and Stricker nipping at his heels but Mickelson’s steepest challenge is likely to come from the memory loop in his head.
“I don’t think I feel any more pressure than anybody else who wants to win the tournament, a major championship, the U.S. Open,” Mickelson said. “But it would certainly mean a lot to me that this is a tournament for years I’ve had opportunities, I’ve come close to, and it would mean a lot tomorrow if I could play some of my best golf.”“I don’t think I feel any more pressure than anybody else who wants to win the tournament, a major championship, the U.S. Open,” Mickelson said. “But it would certainly mean a lot to me that this is a tournament for years I’ve had opportunities, I’ve come close to, and it would mean a lot tomorrow if I could play some of my best golf.”