Another US Open finished in disappointing fashion for Phil Mickelson as he finished way down the leaderboard after a final-round 73.
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The five-time major champion, who was hoping to win his first ever US Open title this week and complete a career grand slam, posted a 77 and finished on 13-over par 293.
Mickelson, who is now 45 years old, will have to defy history to win the US Open next year. The only person to have won a major championship above the age of 45 was Jack Nicklaus, who was 46 when he won the 1986 Masters.
It was an up-and-down round from the three time Masters champion, as he made four birdies and four bogeys to be even par in his first 16 holes, and then finished with a bogey and double bogey.
Whoa. Phil Mickelson at Winged Foot’s wondering where Branden Grace is driving that ball… #USOpen2015
— Mike Leslie (@MikeLeslieWFAA) June 22, 2015
Mickelson’s frustration could be gauged by his interaction with the media after the round.
The affable American doesn’t mind spending time with the journalists even after a bad round, but uttered just 48 words before making a hasty exit.
The full text of his quotes: “I enjoyed coming to Washington to play a major championship event.
“The people here appreciate the PGA Tour players and the US Open, and have really supported it. It was fun to play here. The community helped run a really first-class event. I wish I had played better.”
For the final round, the USGA decided to play the 18th hole as a par-5 for the second successive day as against the earlier plans of using it as a par-4.
The hole, when used as a par-4, came in for severe criticism from players, including world No2 and joint-leader after the third round Jordan Spieth, who called it an “unbelievably stupid” hole.
USGA’s Mike Davis however said that the move was not a reaction to the players’ complaints, but because of the wind direction.
With the 18th a par-5, the first was played as a long and difficult par-4, and American Chris Kirk felt its full force when he opened with a sextuple bogey 10.
That included five shots from the world No16 to come out of the greenside bunker with steep wall.
After the round, Kirk tweeted: “The US Open is a great tournament with incredible history. The @usga should be ashamed of what they did to it this week.”
The U.S. Open is a great tournament with incredible history. The @usga should be ashamed of what they did to it this week.
— Chris Kirk (@Chris_Kirk_) June 21, 2015
Meanwhile, Chambers Bay designer Robert Trent Jones Jr. has reacted to comments from Gary Player, who trashed the golf course and said it was the most unpleasant golf tournament he had ever seen.
“First of all, you have to understand that Gary is a competitor in the design business,” Jones said.
“He was a ruthless competitor in his playing days and at times he can be that way in the design business. We compete for jobs all over the world.
“I can tell you that I’m open to constructive criticism, but to make it personal is something I can’t understand.
“What purpose does it serve to find fault with the USGA, with the men who set it up and with the design itself? All I can tell you is that I don’t comment on my competitors. I don’t need to enter a public debate with Gary Player.”
