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Phil Mickelson Not Discouraged

by Jeff Skinner

us open logo 14Phil Mickelson continued his lackluster play today at the U.S. Open with a 2 over par 72. But with the very difficult conditions facing the players here at Pinehurst No. 2 he really wasn’t too disappointed. Under par won’t be in the cards for many today according to Mickelson.

Phil thought the USGA may have put some pins in tough locations today to thwart another low score from happening in their Open. “Interesting day. A little different golf course. Pins were very difficult. The only birdie pin I thought was 18. But the greens were receptive; it wasn’t unfair. It was a very good test. But I don’t think anybody has shot par yet. Usually somebody goes out early and shoots a low score. It’s not happening yet.

The pins are so close to the edges that if it went sometimes four to six feet on that one side, it was down in a bad spot. So it was a tough. It was a tough day to try to go low.”

With Martin Kaymer finishing at a record 10 under par after 36 holes Mickelson thought the USGA may have bitten back a little and suggested that these tough pin positions could have been spread throughout the first three rounds. “Given the way the first two days played, I think that you want to have a little bit more of a sterner test. I think they probably could have put some of it in the first two days, where there were maybe some tougher pins. But it’s tough to do that when you have 156 guys trying to get through and you could be playing back and forth on some of the greens and it could just take forever. So I think it’s good. It was hard for me because I was trying to make a move and it was hard to get birdies. But a lot of that was due to the fact I didn’t hit it very well, either.”

He continued to be positive about his game for the long term, “You know, my results aren’t very good, but my game doesn’t feel bad. I’m not discouraged about my game. I’m not worried about it. I just — I haven’t quite put it together yet. But I’m excited about the fact that this year my driving, it took a whole different turn. And the technology and the driver now for me is optimum. It’s easy for me to hit. I feel like I have control with it, just like I do my irons. I’ve always felt like when I drive the ball well I’m tough to beat, because my iron play is usually pretty good. Today it wasn’t. I feel like long-term I’m on the right track and I’m excited about the next few years.”

It’s not easy for a professional to go out on Sunday with no chance of winning. He a realist but still wants to finish with his week well. “Just try to go play a good, solid round. If I play well — if I hit it better and make some putts, I think I can shoot 4- or 5-under par, end around even, finish second again.

Always the comedian that Phil Mickelson.

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