Mickelson targets second place

Phil Mickelson managed to see the comical side of his US Open quest as he targets what could be another second place finish at Pinehurst.
Mickelson was one shot off the clubhouse lead when he finished his third round, but knows that his chances of winning the major were remote.
“If I play well tomorrow, if I hit it better and make some putts, I think I can shoot four or five under, end around even par and finish second again,” Mickelson quipped after his round of 72 that featured three bogeys and just one birdie.
“I’ll play a good solid round tomorrow, not really worry about the results and see if I can finish the year strong.”
One of the reasons for Mickelson’s relaxed attitude to the tournament he so desperately wants to win was the ongoing performance of Germany’s Martin Kaymer, who took a record-equalling lead into the third round.
Successive rounds of 65 meant Kaymer had equalled the lowest halfway total in major championship history (130), as well as eclipsing the US Open record of 131 set by Rory McIlroy at Congressional in 2011.
The 29-year-old’s six-shot advantage over American Brendon Todd also matched the championship record shared by Tiger Woods (2000) and McIlroy (2011), but tournament officials were doing their best to get Kaymer to come back to the pack.
Meanwhile, speaking after a round of 74, veteran American Kenny Perry said: “It was a golf course of 18 of the toughest pins I’ve ever seen. It was probably the hardest set-up I’ve ever experienced in a major championship.”
Those sentiments were borne out by some of the early completed scores which saw Boo Weekley shoot 80, Russell Henley 82 and Japan’s Toru Taniguchi an 18-over-par 88 which contained six pars, seven bogeys, four double bogeys and a triple bogey.
England’s Matt Fitzpatrick, the only amateur to make the cut in his last tournament before turning professional, came to the 18th needing a par to break 80 but managed one better, holing from 10 feet for birdie to complete a 78.
“I didn’t play particularly well, but at the same time I never felt like anything went for me. I felt I was quite unlucky,” said the 19-year-old from Sheffield, who will make his professional debut in the Irish Open next week.
“I think it’s the most relaxed I felt on the course, so you would expect the golf to be all right, but it was just one of those days.
“A couple of tees are forward but the ones that are forward don’t really make too much difference, but there’s a few that are back and they make a big difference.
“I probably played similar to yesterday and the day before, I didn’t hole any putts of any sort apart from on the last.”
Latest
-
News
Golfers warned of further sanctions if they continue to play in LIV breakaway
The DP World Tour has issued fines of £100,000 and tournament bans to its members who played in the inaugural LIV Golf event earlier this month
-
European Tour
DP World Tour hits members who played inaugural LIV series with £100,000 fines
They have also been banned from several forthcoming tournaments including the Scottish Open.
-
News
Rory McIlroy not impressed as Brooks Koepka becomes latest big name to join LIV
The world number two labelled the players who have joined the new series as “duplicitous” for the way they have handled their breakaway.
-
The Open
R&A confirms LIV Golf Series players will be allowed to compete at Open
The 150th Open Championship will get underway at St Andrews in three weeks’ time.
-
US Open
Matt Fitzpatrick turns to other major winners for advice on dealing with fame
Fitzpatrick won the US Open on Sunday.
-
News
Brooks Koepka set to join Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series
Koepka’s brother Chase played in the opening event at Centurion Club earlier this month.
-
US Open
Gary Player urges Matt Fitzpatrick to avoid ‘poison’ of modern-day coaching
Player tells US Open champion Fitzpatrick to learn from mistakes of recent major winners, saying: “The teaching today is the worst it has ever been.”
-
US Open
Matt Fitzpatrick’s caddie Billy Foster ready for ‘long party’ after US Open win
Foster won his first major after a 40-year career which includes spells working for the likes of Seve Ballesteros, Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke.
-
US Open
Matt Fitzpatrick backed to become a dominant force after winning first major
The Englishman claimed his first major title at Brookline.
-
US Open
Matt Fitzpatrick: A Blade with plenty of support who can really cut it
The Sheffield golfer landed his first major – and first professional win in America – at Brookline on Sunday.