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Mickelson Plays Onward

At one under through 36 holes, Phil Mickelson is in contention at Bethpage, but he's already won the hearts of the New York fans

By Phillip Howley

Farmingdale, N.Y. - Phil Mickelson was expected to be little more than window dressing at the U.S. Open this week. With all that is going on with his family, with his wife's impending breast cancer surgery, with the time he took off, no one was predicting “Lefty” to be right.

But midway into the competition at soggy Bethpage, Mickelson is making more than a sentimental journey around the Black. He's hanging around the leaderboard, one under through 36 holes, seven shots off the lead, still in position to strike.

“I've been hitting the ball well,” said Mickelson, 39. “I've hit a lot of good shots and mid-irons that have been close, that have given me a lot of birdie opportunities.”

Truth is, Mickelson could be considerably closer to the lead. He got his score to three under during his first round on Friday, then stumbled back as far as one over. By the end of the round, he had settled for a 1-under 69 that included numerous chances for a lower number.

Mickelson hit 15 of 18 greens during that first trip around, often landing close to the flag. But he needed 31 putts. Round two was a similar story. He ran into trouble with a double-bogey at No. 2, falling to one over just two holes into his card. But he strung together three birdies before finishing the front side to move to two under. Bogeys at Nos. 10 and 13 brought it back to even, but a birdie on the par-3 17th restored him to red numbers with two rounds to play.

“I think we all left shots out there,” said Mickelson, who took two weeks off before playing last week at the St. Jude Classic. “But I'm in position that I'm only, what, six [actually seven] back heading into the last rounds, only halfway through.

“So, I like the position I'm in. I think the big thing for me was I struggled with the putter the first round, round and a half. And I started to turn it around there in the end and make some to feel good with it. And I think that if I can get hot with the putter, I like my chances the next two rounds.”

That's not to say Amy Mickelson isn't constantly on her husband's mind. He could hardly not think of his wife as he makes his way around the grounds. Spectators are showing their support for the Mickelsons by wearing pink, the official color of breast cancer awareness. The “Think Pink” crowd has included celebrities such former Mets and Yankees outfielder Darryl Strawberry, whose mother died of breast cancer. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and his wife, Judi, also were on board.

At the same time, Mickelson is being urged on from the gallery -- “Do it for Amy, Phil!” and “Don't worry, Lefty, we got your back!” The golf seems almost a sidelight to the Mickelson love fest.

“It's hard to miss it,” Mickelson said, with a smile. “You know, it's not like they whisper it. But it's very flattering and it's very cool.”

The 109th playing of this treasured championship has been somewhat of a free-for-all. The second wave of players, who did not get out at all on Thursday, wound up catching the best of the proportions. The late starters got in all of the first round in Friday's benign conditions, then immediately became the first out to start the second round.

As a result, all 78 of those players completed their second rounds while the weather was dry and docile. The scores reflect as much, with two 64s, three 65s and three 66s among the group. Mickelson agreed that he was among those who caught a break with the draw, but he cautioned that the course is still plenty difficult.

“I wouldn't say it hasn't shown its teeth,” Mickelson said. “This is a very difficult golf course. It's long, the rough is very difficult. Just a few yards off the fairways in spots it is literally a case of lose your ball or have an unplayable lie.

“Ernie Els, one of the best players in the game, is 15 over. It's not easy. But with the greens soft, you can get the ball close to the holes and make birdies.”

Mickelson is on the fringe of contention - now he has to make a move. With rain forecast for the area on Saturday afternoon, it was difficult to say how far along the championship will get on day three. Things promise to remain somewhat discombobulated. But Mickelson is not letting distractions, personal or professional, get in his way.

“I don't really look too much in the U.S. Open relative to what other players are doing,” he said. “It's just too easy for guys to make mistakes. Once you start coming back, you come all the way back. It's only a birdie here or there that gets me back in it.”

Maybe no one expected Phil Mickelson to be “in it” this week. But he has every intention of proving everyone wrong.

Phillip Howley is a freelance writer whose work has appeared previously on www.usopen.com.

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