Trio ahead at US Open as Woods, Mickelson toil
Source: Agencies |
June 19, 2010, Saturday
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PRISTINE Pebble Beach was no pussycat and patience was the US Open watchword in a gruelling first round on Thursday as Britain's Paul Casey birdied the last for a three-way share of the lead.
While Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson ended a frustrating day without a single birdie between them, Casey ground out a two-under-par 69 to set the pace with American Shaun Micheel and Zimbabwe's Brendon de Jonge.
Englishman Casey, bidding for Europe's first success at the US Open in 40 years, overcame a mediocre display of ball-striking with superb scrambling and excellent putting.
"I had low expectations coming in but I did a wonderful job of managing my way around this golf course," the world No. 9 told reporters after totaling just 23 putts.
Micheel, the 2003 US PGA champion, needed only 22 putts to claw his way into contention while de Jonge holed out with a wedge to eagle the treacherous 14th on his Open debut.
Little-known Spaniard Rafael Cabrera-Bello, competing in his first major championship, carded a 70 to finish level with South Korean K J Choi, Canadian Mike Weir, Britain's Ian Poulter, German Alex Cejka and Japanese teenager Ryo Ishikawa.
Triple champion Woods, despite finding every green in regulation on the front nine, struggled with his putting en route to a 74, one stroke better than Mickelson.
Woods, who romped to a 15-shot victory when the US Open was last held at this California venue in 2000, totaled 34 putts while short game magician Mickelson needed 32.
"The greens are just awful," world No. 1 Woods said after a round featuring bogeys at the ninth, 16th and 18th.
"You know they're going to be bouncing all over the place and you can't leave yourself a long second putt. You'd rather be 30 feet below the hole than 10 feet above the hole."
US Masters champion Mickelson, who has finished runner-up five times at the US Open, was equally annoyed after missing five birdie putts from within 10 feet. "I just putted horrific," the American left-hander said. "It's very frustrating for me to miss all those opportunities. I'm hitting the ball well. I've just got to get sharp on the greens."
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