BAD FLIGHT: Steve Stricker reacts to his tee shot going out of bounds on the second hole during yesterday’s final round of the U.S. Open at Merion. (
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ARDMORE, Pa. — When the day began, if Phil Mickelson were sentimental favorite No. 1 to win the U.S. Open, Steve Stricker would have been a close second.
Stricker, who began the week having played in 58 majors without a victory to go with his 12 PGA Tour wins, saw his chances obliterated early. He took a stunning triple bogey on the second hole when he hit his tee shot out of bounds, hit a second tee shot into the fairway and then shanked a 4-iron out of bounds.
“I didn’t feel that nervous,’’ Stricker said. “I was excited for the day. I’m not over this yet, but it won’t take me long to get over this. Golf is not the thing in my life that it once was. That’s the reason why I scaled back [his playing schedule].
“I’m disappointed I didn’t play better and have a chance to win, but golf is secondary in my life now. So I’m excited to go home and get some time away again.’’
Had the 46-year-old Stricker won, he would have become the oldest U.S. Open winner in history.
“I’m running out of years now,” he said. “I’m not getting any younger.”
* For Jason Day, who finished tied for second with Mickelson, it marked his third runner-up finish in a major in his young career. He was right there in the end until he missed a 3-foot par putt on the 18th to fall to 3-over.
“As long as I keep knocking on the door, I think I’ll win a major soon,’’ Day, 25, said. “I’ve just got to keep putting myself in position to win.’’
For a while, it looked as if Jason Dufner might win the U.S. Open through the back door.
Dufner, who entered the final round nine shots off the lead at 8-over par, walked off the 14th tee 5-under par for his round and suddenly in contention to win.
That, however, is where his run ended, thanks to a tee shot out of bounds to the left side of the 15th hole, causing a triple-bogey 7.
“It’s a tough tee shot, especially with the wind,’’ Dufner said. “You’ve got out of bounds literally one pace from the fairway, which is a little unnerving.’’
* Mickelson, who took a one-shot lead into yesterday, entered the final round having had the 54-hole lead in a major four times, winning three and losing one. His only lost lead after 54 holes had been in the 2006 U.S. Open at Winged Foot. Mickelson’s final-round scoring average in U.S. Opens entering yesterday was 73.2. He shot 74 yesterday.
* Two-time major winner Rory McIlroy shot 76 yesterday to finish 13-over for the week and was asked if he’d like to see the U.S. Open come back to Merion sooner than the 32 years it had been away.
“Some guys want to keep that 30”‘-year gap going just because it’s beaten up on us so much,’’ McIlroy said.
Asked about his game — which has not produced a win since last year’s PGA Championship and since he changed to Nike clubs — McIlroy said: “I sound like a broken record, but I don’t feel like my game is that far away. It’s a matter of trying to let it all click into place.’’
Shawn Stefani provided early fireworks with a hole-in-one on the 17th yesterday. After he holed out the 4-iron, Stefani celebrated and kissed the ground.
“I didn’t know what to do but jump up”‘ and ”‘down for joy,’’ Stefani said. “It’s the first hole”‘-in-”‘one I’ve ever had in a tournament.’’
Stefani’s only other ace came when he was 13 on the 16th hole at Goose Creek Country Club in Texas, where he grew up playing.
* Sergio Garcia shot 74 yesterday and finished the week 15-over par. Incredibly, he was 16-over par on the 14th and 15th holes for the week, meaning had he parred those, he would have won the tournament at 1-under. He made three pars as well as a 5, 6, 7, 8 and a 10.
Garcia hit three tee shots out of bounds on the 15th hole during the third round and yesterday triple-bogeyed the 14th.
“They’re the kind of holes that you have to be spot on,” Garcia said. “You can’t miss it. Take that away and I played well.’’
Asked if it were a difficult week, Garcia said, “What do you think?”
* Defending champion Webb Simpson finished 13-over par, assuring that Curtis Strange would remain the last player to win back-to-back U.S. Opens, in 1988 and ’89. “I did what I thought I needed to do, except I didn’t make any putts,’’ Simpson said.