Golf's biggest names are imploding at the US Open
Halfway through the first day of the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, some of world’s best golfers have shifted their goal from winning the tournament to simply making the 36-hole cut.
Strong winds, lightning-fast greens and ankle-high rough frustrated most players who were first to play Thursday.
Only two golfers who had morning tee times Thursday finished under par — Scott Piercy and Ian Poulter, who both shot 1-under par 69.
A nice 1-under 69 for Ian Poulter to tie for the early clubhouse lead. And he can hardly contain his excitement. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/8pAyXGmjTN
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 14, 2018
Three of golf’s biggest names — Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth — were paired together in one of the first groups of the morning. Suffice it to say the large gallery who followed this elite threesome were stunned at the struggles each player had on opening day.
McIlroy, who has missed the cut at the previous two U.S. Opens, dug himself a deep hole early. He followed up back-to-back bogeys with back-to-back double bogeys to sit at 6-over par after just five holes.
He fared no better after the turn, opening with double bogey and bogey to sit at a bloated 10-over. Back-to-back birdies mitigated some of the damage, but he gave those back with two more bogeys and finished with an 80.
Mickelson, looking for his first U.S. Open title despite six runner-up finishes, bogeyed four of his first seven holes and never got his round turned around. He added four more bogeys on the back nine to go along with just one birdie, and finished at +7.
Spieth also got off to a horrible start, going 3-over on his first two holes. He went 6-over on the course’s four par 3s, including a double and triple bogey.
Spieth, who has struggled with his putting all season, only hit 11 of 18 greens and then needed 33 putts. He finished with an 8-over par 78.
A combined +25 for the featured group of Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth and Phil Mickelson at the #usopen
They'll look to regroup tomorrow in Round 2 at Shinnecock Hills pic.twitter.com/alqWK9MRbI
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 14, 2018
Jason Day, who was once the world’s No. 1 ranked player, continued his recent struggles in majors, with a 9-over par 79. Day hit just six of 18 greens and managed just one birdie on the day.
Among the other big names who posted big scores was Bubba Watson at +7 and defending U.S. Open champ Brooks Koepka at +5.
Masters champion Patrick Reed opened with a 3-over par 73. Ricky Fowler, looking for his first major title, also shot 73.
Matt Kuchar, a week shy of his 40th birthday, was 2-under after his front nine, but he went 5-over par on holes 11, 12 and 13 and finished at 3-over par.
The most anticipated pairing of the afternoon groups featured Dustin Johnson, Tiger Woods and Justin Thomas. Johnson recently reclaimed his spot as the No.1-ranked player in the world with his convincing victory last weekend at the FedEx St. Jude Classic.
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