NOTEBOOK: Mickelson Misses Cut In Potentially Final U.S. Open

OAKMONT, Pa. — In 1994 at Oakmont Country Club, a then 64-year-old Arnold Palmer had an emotional farewell to fans as he participated in his final U.S. Open, something which might just be repeating itself some 31 years later.

For much of his professional career Phil Mickelson was considered his generation’s Palmer and there certainly is a chance that when his birdie putt fell just off the mark on the 18th hole, he will be saying goodbye to the U.S. Open.

This year was Mickelson’s last with his exemption for winning the 2021 PGA Championship and he was riding momentum from a high finish at last week’s LIV Golf Virginia event, to where he sought to become the oldest to make a U.S. Open cut.

Instead, Mickelson, goes home just three days before his 55th birthday.

This did not always appear to be the outcome, in fact with four holes to play Mickelson was at 4 over, three shots clear of the projected 7-over cut until he recorded double bogey on both the 15th and 17th holes.

Needing a birdie to stay the weekend, Mickelson pounded a drive which just stayed in the fairway. His approach left him 14 1/2 feet away from the cup with a putt he could aggressively stroke.

After the putt did not drop, the weight of what happened appeared to hit Mickelson, his brief words that it might be his last U.S. Open were whispers which grew into shouts.

After the round Mickelson did not speak to reporters, which Golf Channel’s Ryan Lavner also reported he declined to do before the tournament.

Of course, the USGA could intervene and given Mickelson’s résumé, a special exemption for next year’s tournament would not be out of the realm of possibility. Mickelson did receive one in 2021 but winning the PGA Championship negated the need for such an exemption.

USGA chief championships officer John Bodenhamer spoke on this very topic during a Wednesday press conference stating that things would be reviewed ahead of next year’s event at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club.

“I think the way that we would also think of Phil is we hope he earns his way in, and I think he’d tell you the same thing,” he explained. “That’s what he did last time. We gave him one and then he went out and won the PGA Championship. So wouldn’t put it past him.”

After his round, Ben Griffin was asked about Mickelson.

“Phil is a guy that I definitely watched throughout my junior golf and throughout childhood and was a good guy to kind of follow and be inspired by,” stated Griffin.

SCHEFFLER’S FRUSTRATION BOILS OVER

This week was poised to be Scottie Scheffler’s once again, but he just has not been able to get it going, posting 4 over, good to safely make the weekend, but be seven shots behind his good friend Sam Burns, with whom he played multiple practice rounds earlier on in the week.

By his own words, Scheffler’s 1-over 71 was a hard-fought battle with not getting the ball in the proper spots and paying the price for it.

“Any time you’re not hitting it the way or playing up to my expectations I think it’s frustrating,” he expressed. “Mentally this was as tough as I’ve battled for the whole day. There was a lot of stuff going on out there that was not going in my favor necessarily, and I felt like (caddie) Teddy (Scott) and I did a great job of battling, especially coming down the stretch. Overall, definitely not out of the tournament. Today was I think with the way I was hitting it was easily a day I could have been going home and battled pretty hard to stay in there.”

How Scheffler was striking the ball led to his being animated in a 90-plus minute range session with swing coach Randy Smith.

Many shots during that session had Scheffler talking to himself and doing one-hand follow throughs.

According to Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis in an update given to him by text from Smith, Scheffler had better emotions and control of his golf swings as the session wore on. The problem has been trying to get his swing to his right side. They made some setup adjustments and will be fine for the weekend.