PINEHURST: Phil Mickelson realised his dream of winning the US Open at Pinehurst to complete a career grand slam was over yesterday, but he could still laugh about it.
The 41-year-old US left-hander, a record six-time runner-up at the US Open, lamented his putting woes and admitted how unlikely his chances were to win today after a two-over par 72 third round to stand on five-over 215.
“Just try to go play a good, solid round,” Mickelson said of his plan for the final round.
“If I play well, if I hit it better and make some putts, I think I can shoot 4- or 5-under par, end around even, finish second again.”
Reigning British Open champion Mickelson could joke in the face of disappointment after a season of poor putting in which he has yet to crack the top-10 in a US PGA event.
But it comes after a week where the three-time Masters champion has been painfully honest about his hunger to win the only major that has eluded him.
“They are crushing. They are demoralising. They hurt. They sting,” Mickelson said of his second-place finishes, the latest of which was last year at Merion.
“I didn’t get out of bed for three days I was so crushed over that loss.”
Mickelson, whose first runner-up effort at a US Open came at Pinehurst 15 years ago, said will be the first day of the rest of his year.
“It’s unlikely to just turn on a dime. You have to take baby steps, if you will,” Mickelson said.
“So a good step for me is a good solid round for me tomorrow. I’ll play a good solid round, not really worry about the results and see if I can finish the year strong.”
A course that was set up to be difficult ended any chance Mickelson might be able to make a run at leader Martin Kaymer, who was 13 strokes ahead of him after 36 holes.
“It was a tough day to try to go low,” Mickelson said. “Given the way the first two days played, I think that you want to have a little bit more of a sterner test. It was hard for me because I was trying to make a move and it was hard to get birdies,” he said.
“But a lot of that was due to the fact I didn’t hit it very well, either.”
Mickelson is not devastated about his game, but has been unable to find the putting touch that brought him a Claret Jug last year at Muirfield.
“My results aren’t very good, but my game doesn’t feel bad. I’m not discouraged about my game.”
“I haven’t quite put it together yet, but I’m excited about the fact that this year my driving took a whole different turn.AFP
