Phil Mickelson's "dreams" of winning the US Open are fading fast after the LIV Golf star finished his opening round almost dead last in the field at Pinehurst No. 2.
Glory has eluded the six-time major champion in his national open throughout his career, with six runner-up finishes and some agonising near misses along the way. At 53 years old, time is fast running out for Lefty to complete the career grand slam.
The 45-time PGA Tour winner has not given up hope of lifting the US Open Championship Trophy before he calls time on his career. He said in 2021: "Winning the US Open has been a lifelong and elusive dream, and I've come close so many times. You can't win if you don't play."
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But his hopes are over for another year after carding a brutal nine-over-par opening round in North Carolina on Thursday, leaving him in a tie for 146th out of the 156-man field.
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Mickelson, who has not won since his triumph in the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island three years ago, failed to card a single birdie on Friday, with nine bogeys to his name including each of his first four holes of the tournament.
Mickelson faces an uphill battle just to make the cut on Friday, starting the day 14 shots behind leaders Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay. But he was not the only player to be exposed by the difficulty of Pinehurst No. 2 on Thursday.
Mickelson appeared disgusted by his performance (Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)Viktor Hovland was hotly tipped to contend this week after reuniting with swing coach Joe Mayo and finding form in recent weeks, finishing third at last month's PGA Championship. But the Norwegian endured a miserable day, carding six bogeys and two doubles en route to an eight-over-par round of 78, putting him in a tie for 139th.
Justin Thomas, too, quickly played his way out of contention. The two-time major champion started with three bogeys in his opening four holes and his round spiralled out of control, finishing tied for 130th at seven-over par. World No. 11 Sahith Theegala also has plenty of work to do to make the cut after going round in seven-over.
But the pain of the opening round will be particularly acute for Mickelson, who is in the twilight of his career and knows he has very few chances left of winning his most coveted prize. He has many grim memories at this tournament in the back of his mind.
Perhaps the most troublesome is the 2006 edition at Winged Foot, when he blew a one-shot lead at the last and lost in an 18-hole playoff to Geoff Ogilvy. "I just can't believe I did that," he said at the time. "I am such an idiot.''
Mickelson also has a difficult history at Pinehurst, losing out by one shot when Payne Stewart claimed one of the most iconic major wins of the 20th century in 1999.
Mickelson will be back out on the course at 6.36pm BST on Friday, as he hopes to salvage a chance to play the weekend.
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