Phil Mickelson Returns To Scene Of His Most Crushing Defeat Aiming For Career Grand Slam At US Open

The course was the location of his most excruciating defeat when in 2006, needing only a par on the ultimate gap — or a bogey to take it to a playoff — to say his first US Open title and full a profession grand slam, the American hit the ball off a hospitality tent and made a double-bogey, handing the title to Geoff Ogilvy.

And whereas the crushing nature of that defeat did not maintain Mickelson again — he went on to win two extra majors — the reminiscences from Winged Foot will little question eternally follow him.

Whereas that profession grand slam nonetheless stays elusive to Mickelson as he returns to Winged Foot for the 120th US Open Championship, which begins on Thursday, one factor that has modified is his physique. He took to Twitter to indicate his transformation since 2006, admitting he seems to be just a little “completely different” now.

“Final time I used to be at Winged Foot, I used to be 36 years outdated with no accountability for my well being … After turning into accountable for my very own well being, at present I return to Winged Foot and let’s simply say I look just a little ‘completely different.'”

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A troublesome check

When Mickelson misplaced that heartbreaker at Winged Foot 14 years in the past, the successful rating was 5 over par. The rating to make the minimize that 12 months was 13 over.

In distinction to the 13 below Gary Woodland shot in June final 12 months to win the US Open at Pebble Seashore, many expect one other over-par rating to win the championship in 2020.

The successful rating has been over par in all however one US Open at Winged Foot; Jack Nicklaus as soon as described the course as getting “powerful on the primary tee and by no means getting any simpler.”

And after taking part in the course earlier than the Tour Championship final week, Jon Rahm — the world No.2 — believes gamers will as soon as once more battle to make birdies.

“It is only a troublesome course. It is lengthy. It is slender. It is undulated,” the Spaniard said. “You simply must play actually good golf.

“If it will get agency like among the USGA guys (the match organizers) instructed me they need it to be, I do not see how any of us shoot below par. Or if we shoot below par, it might be someone successful by rather a lot.”

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The person to beat

Since golf returned from the coronavirus hiatus, Dustin Johnson has been in red-hot type.

In 10 PGA Tour occasions, the 36-year-old has received three and completed second twice — together with final month’s PGA Championship — and likewise received the season-ending FedEx Cup title.

In addition to pocketing over $15 million for his FedEx Cup victory at East Lake, Atlanta and returning to world No.1, Johnson was named the PGA Tour’s Participant of the 12 months.

Coming into the US Open, Johnson is undeniably the person to beat, and he instructed the media that he was “happy” with the way in which his recreation has been “clicking” in latest competitions.

“Clearly I’ve simply put in lots of good work. I really feel prefer it’s good to see that the work you are placing in, to have the ability to take it on the golf course and to golf tournaments,” he said.

“I’ve spent lots of time with (coach) Claude (Harmon III) and my brother engaged on the placing and every thing simply appears to be clicking proper now. However I’ve positively needed to put in lots of work to get to the place I am at. And clearly the sport’s good and it feels good.”

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Creating higher reminiscences

In 2006, when the US Open was final held at Winged Foot, Tiger Woods was competing simply six weeks after the loss of life of his father Earl.

And Woods admits that he wasn’t in the suitable mindset to play effectively then, as he missed the minimize by three photographs. “I used to be not ready to play and nonetheless coping with the loss of life of my dad,” he said on Tuesday.

“Once I did not win the Masters that 12 months, that was actually powerful to take as a result of that was the final occasion my dad was ever going to observe me play.

“He handed not too lengthy after that, and fairly frankly, after I acquired prepared for this occasion, I did not actually put within the time. I did not actually put within the observe, and consequently missed the minimize fairly simply.”

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Now the 44-year-old is again at Winged Foot hoping to create new, extra constructive reminiscences as he goals to win his first US Open title since 2008.

Since golf returned from the break, Woods has struggled for health and type, taking part in in simply 4 PGA Tour occasions, his highest end coming on the PGA Championship when he tied for 37th.

“This 12 months I actually have not putted in addition to I needed to,” Woods stated, “and the instances I did make just a few swing errors, I missed it within the fallacious spots. Consequently, I simply did not have the suitable seems to be at it. I’ve compounded errors right here and there that ended up not making me in a position to make pars or a birdie run, and consequently I have not put myself in rivalry to win occasions.”

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