BROOKLINE, Mass. – Perhaps the talk of LIV Golf vs PGA Tour will gradually decrease over a few days, with the onset of US Open at the official The Country Club here. Or, at least, until Phil Mickelson is in the course. Mickelson, the face of LIV Golf, is still looking for the missing piece of his Grand Slam resume: winning the US Open.
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In the first round, two kids run away with defending champion Jon Rahm’s ball on hole 18. Rahm was let loose on the hole while the kids snatched a souvenir.
While most eyes will be on Mickelson – and how he’s been received by fans at this venue just outside of Boston – there’s plenty more to keep an eye on at the third major tournament of the year.
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Not a good start for Mickelson
Phil Mickelson scored four goals on the par-3 sixth hole after hitting his tee shot on the green about 15 feet from the hole. After missing a potential birdie putt, Mickelson pushed the par putt through the hole and missed the putt back because of a bogey.
“Well,” he said to himself when the third shot couldn’t find the hole.
Mickelson has yet to make a birdie and is in a more 5th place after six holes. – Paolo Uggetti
Early play by Koepka
Two-time US Open champion Brooks Koepka touch all to the 15th hole.
Left with 205 yards to the hole after hitting his tee in the middle of the fairway, Koepka jerked his approach shot to the left. His ball flew into the stands and bounced around before stopping.
After being free-falled at the base of the stands, Koepka chipped to about 9 feet and made a par throw. He passed 2 after seven holes. – Mark Schlabach
Find range…@BKoepka (+1) made his hit to a near-perfect distance on the 17th to set up a birdie. #US Open pic.twitter.com/Q38V0sTpDc
– US Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 16, 2022
Club throws all the way to the top
After catching fire in the second half of his inning and being penalized 4 under, Rory McIlroy Tried to dribble at the par-4 post 9 but shot far and left. He backed off the shot twice and switched clubs from before. When he saw it land, McIlroy immediately threw his cane. When he reached the green box, he continued to point to the left, gesturing to see how many rooms he had placed it there. Frustration spilled over his ghostly swing. While he waits Hideki Matsuyama To finish, McIlroy pulled down his white hat that covered his face. However, his third half was still good to take the lead.
Earlier in his round, with the crowd already four and five deep around the 18th green, McIlroy had a small roar on Thursday when he hit a 16-foot birdie putt to move into the lead. 2 sticks and 1 club ahead. The 2011 US Open champion started on the 10th tee early Thursday morning and is on the verge of a thrilling win at last week’s RBC Canadian Open as well as a two-time top-10 finish in two majors this year.
“It’s been eight years since I won a major, and I just want to get my hands on it again,” McIlroy say after round.
He’s trying to win a major the week after winning a PGA Tour event, having won the RBC Canadian Open championship last week. The last player to do it? McIlroy. He won the 2014 PGA Championship the week after winning the WGC-Bridgestone. No player has ever won the US Open after winning on the PGA Tour last week. The closest person to that was Arnold Palmer, who came in second in 1963, according to research by ESPN Stats & Information.
– Uggetti and Schlabach
Backyard Battle!
I’m bad at all of that and I literally swept him into his own backyard one night. @Joel_Dahmen https://t.co/MuqvAhtSoI
– max homa (@ maxhoma23) June 16, 2022
A close ace!
Justin Rose2013 US Open champion had a great shot to start his round.
Where is the party after that?
After the 3-under shot, Joel Dahmen, took the lead as he finished his first round. He’s never finished higher than 10th in a major before, so he’s probably nervous and probably going easy before round two.
Not like it.
How will tonight’s US Open co-leader Joel Dahmen spend it?
“Principal Ben is in town. We’re going to see his concert. [pause] It would be difficult to go to this bar and not have 100 beers like we usually do at concerts. “
– Dylan Dethier (@dylan_dethier) June 16, 2022
Ben Principal is a Nashville-born pop singer/songwriter who has released seven studio albums.
Golf can be cruel
Golf is hard – even for the best players in the world. Most likely most players will have a bad break at this week’s US Open, considered the hardest test in golf.
McIlroy figured it out on the par-4 fifth hole at The Country Club on Thursday. After he correctly pushed his tee, his ball ended up in the thick grass above a bunker. His feet were very low to the ball, so he managed to hit it only about 10 yards – into another fairway bunker. He slammed his stick into the sand twice.
Notably, McIlroy was able to get up and down the sand to make saves. – Schlabach
A man on duty. @McIlroyRory save par at 5. #US Open pic.twitter.com/6SMjcYqGnD
– US Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 16, 2022
This is Matt McCartybirdie’s effort on the fifth hole. Thought blocked footage in the Boston area would arrive late Thursday.
Adam Scott, the 2013 Masters champion, had this shot just three yards into the net. However, he saved par in the hole.
This shot goes 3 yards…
Country clubs are no joke pic.twitter.com/v1DZX6e8lI
– PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 16, 2022
LIV Golf is not far away
LIV Golf made sure to get the message across that even though this isn’t their event, their people are still here.
Happy Birthday Lefty! 🎂🎉#LIVGolf pic.twitter.com/xne3iZGgYS
– LIV Golf (@LIVGolfInv) June 16, 2022
Good luck to you#LIVGolf pic.twitter.com/4hWCHPYOmk
– LIV Golf (@LIVGolfInv) June 16, 2022
First
Champion Jon Rahm was one of the early golfers, along with Max Homaformer Masters and US Open champion Jordan Spiethand double big winner Collin Morikawa.
Throw darts at 7
It’s a bird returned to @JordanSpieth. #US Open pic.twitter.com/sd9LQbcbAi
– US Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 16, 2022
There are good things to be had today in 6th place.@ maxhoma23 (-1) is the latest value found. #US Open pic.twitter.com/P1phSsip4E
– US Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 16, 2022
Use the wind to fade it. Make the putt. Simple game
Birds on the back for @JonRahmpga to get the red figures. #US Open pic.twitter.com/bvMv8siUG0
– US Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 16, 2022
There’s more to it than golf going on around here
Sure, New England fans come here to watch golf. But forgive them if they are a bit distracted. Something else was on their mind – about 7.2 miles on the road.
Big day for sports Boston@celtics | #US Open pic.twitter.com/SPHHNf0VkG
– US Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 16, 2022
The Boston Celtics are hoping to keep their NBA championship hopes alive Thursday in Game 6 with Golden Empire Warriors. (9 p.m. ET on ABC). The Celtics are down 3-2 in this series.
