Of all four majors, the US Open has always appeared the least likely to suit the aggressive, crowd-pleasing game generally adopted by Phil Mickelson.
Pars are always at a premium and a plodding approach is the prescribed formula for success on the trademark slick greens and tight fairways flanked by thick, graduated rough.
Appearances can be misleading, though, and Mickelson, helped by his magical short game, has frequently contended in the major championship widely regarded as the toughest to win.
Five times in the last 11 years, the American left-hander has finished second at the event and this week at Pebble Beach would provide the perfect setting for him to clinch a breakthrough victory in his national Open.
The California-born Mickelson made his first appearance as a professional in the 1992 US Open at Pebble Beach, where he missed the cut, and he has gone on to win the PGA Tour’s Pebble Beach National Pro-Am three times.
“It’s a special tournament for me,” the world No. 2 told reporters on Tuesday. “Having come so close, this is a tournament I’d very much like to win.”
“When I started out as a young pro, not many people — maybe myself included — thought this would be a tournament I would play well at, but I’ve been able to,” said Mickelson, whose bold play earned him the nickname “Phil the Thrill.”
“I still have a sense of pride in the way I’ve played, but I would like to win my national Open. Winning this tournament would be something that would help define my career,” he said.
A 38-time winner on the PGA Tour who clinched the US Masters in April, Mickelson felt his short game had been the biggest factor in helping him contend regularly at US Opens.
“In the Open the biggest thing when you approach a hole is where can you make par from, what’s your best opportunity to make par?” he said. “A lot of times these greens are unhittable and you will not be able to keep it on the surface.”
“That’s why I’ve been able to be successful in the Open ... nobody is able to hit some greens and it then puts a lot of emphasis on short game. It gives me an opportunity over the course of 72 holes to keep myself in contention,” he said.
Mickelson, a four-times major winner, turned 40 yesterday and believes he is playing the best golf of his life.
“As recently as a year ago I see a big difference. I feel like even though I’m 40 I’m playing some of my best golf,” he said.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months. Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning. Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back. However, while Leverkusen rallied late to
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or
Taiwan yesterday survived Bosnia and Herzegovina to win their Davis Cup World Group I tie at the Taipei Tennis Center. The tight series started on Saturday with world No. 123 Jason Tseng losing 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to Mirza Basic in the opening singles matchup. However, teammate Tony Wu kept the tie even, dominating world No. 86 Damir Dzumhur 6-2, 6-1. Yesterday, 24-year-old Ray Ho and partner 25-year-old Hsu Yu-hsiou kept up the momentum, making short work of Basic and Nerman Fatic, winning 6-3, 6-4. Tseng then suffered another defeat, losing 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to Dzumhur in a brutal match that lasted more than two