There’s no other way to say it. After it seemed like golfing legend Phil Mickelson was making his move toward the top of the leaderboard in the middle of the second round of the 2011 U.S. Open, he just as quickly settled toward the middle of the pack. Then came today’s third round and the seasoned veteran fell apart like a rookie under pressure. It’s unseemingly and incredibly surprising for anyone watching the U.S. Open.
Mickelson currently stands in 57th place, just five strokes off of the worst scores still in the contest at +7 overall (Wes Heffernan and Brad Benjamin are tied for the honor of worst score at the U.S. Open with +12). The back nine in today’s third round for Mickelson did him in with two double bogeys and three bogeys to finish with an atrocious 77 on the day. In the process, Mickelson went from 1-under to 6-over in a matter of 8 holes.
Mickelson refused to speak to the press about it, but did say to the U.S. Golf Association that “Some things kind of fell apart there in the end.” That’s one way to put it, but crash and burn might be another. Here’s hoping Mickelson saves some face in the tournament’s final day.