Phil Mickelson in jeopardy of missing cut at U.S. Open after carding 8-over 78 in 1st round

BROOKLINE, Mass. — Six-time major champion Phil Mickelson acknowledged one in every of many causes he prefers the model new LIV Golf Invitational Sequence is because of its 54-hole events.

Mickelson will almost certainly solely must play 36 holes throughout the U.S. Open this week.

Mickelson’s return to aggressive golf within the US, and his 52nd birthday, didn’t go as deliberate throughout the first spherical of the U.S. Open at The Nation Membership open air Boston on Thursday. He carded a 8-over 78 and was tied for 144th place amongst 154 golfers when he walked off the course.

“I truly beloved the test; I imagine it’s only a spectacular golf course,” Mickelson suggested reporters throughout the players’ parking lot after the spherical. “I merely truly struggled with the putter the first few holes, much like I did ultimate week.”

Having fun with for the first time throughout the U.S. since missing the decrease on the Farmers Insurance coverage protection Open in late January, Mickelson had bogeys on three of the first 5 holes after which four-putted from 12 ft for a double bogey on the par-3 sixth.

The highlight of his spherical acquired right here on the par-3 eleventh, when Mickelson sank an 8-foot birdie, his solely one in every of many spherical. Nevertheless then Mickelson yanked his tee shot into the thick powerful on the proper side on No. 12, wished two pictures to get once more to the inexperienced and carded a double-bogey 6 to drop to 7 over.

Besides Mickelson goes truly low in Friday’s second spherical, he figures to miss the weekend in his thirty first U.S. Open. It is his eighth strive at making an attempt to develop to be solely the sixth man to complete the career grand slam throughout the Masters interval; Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Ben Hogan, Gary Participant and Gene Sarazen have been the others. Mickelson has been runner-up on the U.S. Open a doc six situations.

Mickelson was participating in throughout the U.S. Open after being indefinitely suspended by PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan each week prior to now. Mickelson was thought-about one in every of 17 tour players who competed throughout the inaugural LIV Golf Invitational Sequence event in London and never utilizing a conflicting-event launch.

Mickelson reportedly acquired $200 million to enroll with LIV Golf, which is being financed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Funding Fund. Mickelson acknowledged he plans to play throughout the remaining seven LIV Golf events this season, along with the 100 and fiftieth Open Championship, which is scheduled for July 14 to 17 at St. Andrews in Scotland.

Mickelson, who has gained 45 situations on the PGA Tour and earned nearly $95 million all through his career, acknowledged he must handle his Tour lifetime membership.