SM
Ipswich vs. Man United: 3 hrs 38 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data

Brooks Koepka makes strong start at US Open

:Headline: Brooks Koepka makes strong start at US Open:
Brooks Koepka made an impressive start to his bid for a third US Open victory in five years as Phil Mickelson's hopes of completing the career grand slam suffered a significant blow.Koepka, who won the title in 2017 and 2018 and was second in 2019, carded an opening 69 at Torrey Pines to lie two shots behind early clubhouse leader Russell Henley.Former Open champion Francesco Molinari was a shot off the lead following a 68, but Mickelson was four over par approaching the end of his round, a month after becoming the oldest champion in major history with his shock victory in the US PGA Championship.Brooks Koepka cards a 2-under 69 in the first round of the U.S. Open.Koepka has gone on to win or finish second in six of the last 10 majors which he opened with a score in the 60s.#USOpen- PGA TOUR Communications (@PGATOURComms) June 17, 2021Starting on the back nine, Koepka birdied the 12th, 17th and 18th to reach the turn in 33 before another birdie on the second took him into the outright lead on four under.A wild tee shot to the third cost the 31-year-old his first bogey of the day and another shot went on the seventh after a pulled drive which finished at the base of a picnic bench where spectators were eating lunch.Also starting on the back nine after a 90-minute delay due to fog, Mickelson dropped a shot on the 10th when he failed to get up and down from a greenside bunker, his par attempt catching the edge of the hole and spinning out.Guy just wants to eat his sandwich. 🤷‍♂️ #USOpen pic.twitter.com/vIBnFXkLxa- U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 17, 2021The six-time major winner was even more unfortunate on the 13th when, after taking a penalty drop from a bush, his fourth shot to the 613-yard par five bounced once before hitting the pin and rebounding off the green.Mickelson did well to limit the damage to a single shot by chipping to six feet and holing the putt, but another shot went on the 15th after an errant drive.A birdie on the 17th stopped the rot and Mickelson also found the green on the par-five 18th in two, but could only three-putt from 60 feet for par.Just nine days before rolling back the years to win the US PGA, Mickelson had reluctantly accepted a special exemption for the US Open, an event in which he has finished runner-up a record six times.The exemption was required because Mickelson had slipped out of the world's top 100 and the prospect of him joining Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods in having won all four majors looked increasingly far-fetched.However, Mickelson's stunning victory at Kiawah Island came with a five-year US Open exemption and the 51-year-old - who celebrated his birthday on Wednesday - spent last week practising hard at a course he used to love.Mickelson has won three times at Torrey Pines, including back-to-back victories in the Buick Invitational - now the Farmers Insurance Open - in 2000 and 2001, but three months after the last of those successes the South Course underwent a major redesign which was not to Mickelson's liking.In his 18 starts since, the left-hander has recorded just four top-10 finishes and in the last seven years has missed the cut three times, withdrawn once with a back injury, skipped one year to play on the European Tour and has a best finish of 14th in 2017.England's Marcus Armitage made an impressive start on his US Open debut with a level-par 71.
Sports Mole

Brooks Koepka made an impressive start to his bid for a third US Open victory in five years as Phil Mickelson's hopes of completing the career grand slam suffered a significant blow.

Koepka, who won the title in 2017 and 2018 and was second in 2019, carded an opening 69 at Torrey Pines to lie two shots behind early clubhouse leader Russell Henley.

Former Open champion Francesco Molinari was a shot off the lead following a 68, but Mickelson was four over par approaching the end of his round, a month after becoming the oldest champion in major history with his shock victory in the US PGA Championship.

Starting on the back nine, Koepka birdied the 12th, 17th and 18th to reach the turn in 33 before another birdie on the second took him into the outright lead on four under.

A wild tee shot to the third cost the 31-year-old his first bogey of the day and another shot went on the seventh after a pulled drive which finished at the base of a picnic bench where spectators were eating lunch.

Also starting on the back nine after a 90-minute delay due to fog, Mickelson dropped a shot on the 10th when he failed to get up and down from a greenside bunker, his par attempt catching the edge of the hole and spinning out.

The six-time major winner was even more unfortunate on the 13th when, after taking a penalty drop from a bush, his fourth shot to the 613-yard par five bounced once before hitting the pin and rebounding off the green.

Mickelson did well to limit the damage to a single shot by chipping to six feet and holing the putt, but another shot went on the 15th after an errant drive.

A birdie on the 17th stopped the rot and Mickelson also found the green on the par-five 18th in two, but could only three-putt from 60 feet for par.

Officials inspect the 16th green after a fog delay during the first round of the US Open (Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP)

Just nine days before rolling back the years to win the US PGA, Mickelson had reluctantly accepted a special exemption for the US Open, an event in which he has finished runner-up a record six times.

The exemption was required because Mickelson had slipped out of the world's top 100 and the prospect of him joining Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods in having won all four majors looked increasingly far-fetched.

However, Mickelson's stunning victory at Kiawah Island came with a five-year US Open exemption and the 51-year-old – who celebrated his birthday on Wednesday – spent last week practising hard at a course he used to love.

Phil Mickelson plays his shot from the 18th tee during the first round of the US Open (Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP)

Mickelson has won three times at Torrey Pines, including back-to-back victories in the Buick Invitational – now the Farmers Insurance Open – in 2000 and 2001, but three months after the last of those successes the South Course underwent a major redesign which was not to Mickelson's liking.

In his 18 starts since, the left-hander has recorded just four top-10 finishes and in the last seven years has missed the cut three times, withdrawn once with a back injury, skipped one year to play on the European Tour and has a best finish of 14th in 2017.

England's Marcus Armitage made an impressive start on his US Open debut with a level-par 71.

body check tags ::

amp_article__451804 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-06-17 21:39:17:
html db last update - 2021-06-17 21:39:17 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Share this article now:
LW
Read Next:
Lee Westwood hopes to strike it lucky at 121st US Open
>


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Read more about Brooks Koepka Phil Mickelson Tyrrell Hatton Tommy Fleetwood Golf
Follow @SportsMole for the latest breaking news stories, and follow @sm_headlines to get every headline from Sports Mole
Recommended Next on SM
Lee Westwood hopes to strike it lucky at 121st US Open
Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal 'learn asking price' for Brighton forward Ferguson
"He's been unfairly judged" - Have the critics been too harsh on Arsenal's Merino?

Page options

Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
10Fulham125341717018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Crystal Palace121561017-78
19Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
20Southampton11119721-144
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Preview: Sporting Lisbon vs. Arsenal - prediction, team news, lineups

1

PS

Sporting Lisbon vs. Arsenal: Head-to-head record and past meetings

2

SL

Preview: Sparta Prague vs. Atletico - prediction, team news, lineups

NEW

3

PS

Preview: Wycombe vs. Mansfield - prediction, team news, lineups

NEW

4

PW

Yamal update: Barcelona injury, suspension news vs. Brest

5

YU

Four changes, Partey or Merino? Predicted Arsenal XI against Sporting

6

FC

Sunday's Premier League predictions including Ipswich Town vs. Man United

7

SP

Ruben rejected: Man United's 'unsuccessful feeler' for Real Madrid star revealed

8

RR

Out of this world: Arsenal to make 'astronomical' bid for Serie A star?

9

OO

Will Doku, Dias return? Man City injury list for Feyenoord clash

10

WD


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .