U.S. Open: Phil Mickelson 4-puts on a par 3, jeopardizes weekend participation in Brookline

Phil Mickelson’s U.S. Open might be over before it really even started, four-putting on the par 3 6th hole as part of opening round action of the U.S. Open at The Country Club in Brookline on Thursday.

The six-time major champion is still chasing an elusive U.S. Open championship, and it certainly looks like it won’t come this year. Mickelson, who turned 52 on Thursday, is now in danger of missing the cut.

Mickelson, who has admitted recently that his putting isn’t where it needs to be, might be running out of chances to win the U.S. Open. He has been arguably the biggest name to defect to the Saudi-backed LIV golf series, which could jeopardize his eligibility for events like the U.S. Open in the future. The United States Golf Association, which runs the U.S. Open, allowed players who signed on with LIV to participate this year, but could reevaluate the criteria to play in the tournament in the years to come. USGA CEO Mike Whan has acknowledged that LIV players could be banned from the U.S. Open moving forward.

Lefty’s last major tournament victory came in 2021, when he became the oldest player to win a major when he captured the PGA Championship.