U.S. Open: First Round Winners and Losers

You cannot win the U.S. Open in the first round of play, but you can probably lose it.

There were first round winners and losers at Bethpage Black when first round play finally ended late Friday afternoon.

Winners for sure were the players on the back end of the first round tee times—those players who were scheduled to play Thursday afternoon but didn't get to experience the slushy conditions.

"We're on the better end of the tee times," explained Phil Mickelson. "Soft conditions are great!"

The conditions were particularly great for another lefty, Canadian Mike Weir. Weir flirted with golf immortality Friday afternoon.

He was six-under through 13 holes and needed two birdies over the last five holes to set an Open record of 62. Those hopes were squashed by a double-bogey six at the sixth hole but Weir bounced back with birdies at eight and nine, his final two holes of the day to shoot 64. The lowest Open round ever at Bethpage Black.

Weir was obviously the biggest winner of round one. Here's a look at some other first round winners and those who weren't so fortunate.

Duval Back from Oblivion

David Duval has been living in golf limbo. He made a return to the form of his glory days with a first round 67. It tied his best effort ever in a U.S. Open.

Duval has been saying that he is on the right track. He made the cut last week in Memphis and earned his way to Bethpage as a qualifier.

The crowds were pulling for Duval, and who wouldn't?

Question remaining for Duval: Can he sustain?

Hey New York, It's Rocco!

If you were thinking Rocco Mediate was a one-time Open wonder last year at Torrey Pines, think again.

Rocco's back.

The New York crowds gotta love this guy. Who wouldn't?

Rocco lost to Tiger Woods in a playoff last year, and his first round 68 cut Woods by six shots.

Rocco is the ultimate underdog, describing himself at Torrey Pines as a "billion-to-one," shot.

You have to think his odds aren't quite that overwhelming this week.

Mickelson Turns 66 into 69

Phil Mickelson was looking at 66, maybe 67 at worst, until his putter backfired on him in the first round. Still, Mickelson shot 69 and he's in really, really good position, acknowledging that he is on the fortunate end of the draw.

Phil imploded on some short putts in the first round. Otherwise, he would have been looking at a very low number.

The crowds were giving him a hero's ovation on very hole and you can tell that the support has energized him.

His good start should serve him well. NBC's Johnny Miller is predicting Phil will be a factor in the final round.

The Honorable Mentions

Former British Open champion Todd Hamilton hasn't made noise in any majors lately but he did with a 67 on Friday.

Others who distinguished themselves were Swede Peter Hanson (66), Adam Scott and, Sean O'Hair (69). Best round from the bad end of the draw was Graeme McDowell's 69.

Let's not forget the wild one, Ian Poulter, and the putting-challenged Sergio Garcia. Both were in at 70.

Those were some of the first round winners, now those who were not so fortunate.

Tiger Just Couldn't Finish

Tiger Woods has himself in pretty good shape with four holes left in his first round. He had overcome his mistakes and was looking good. "I was right where I needed to be," Woods said.

Then a double bogey, bogey, par, bogey finish left him wallowing in the mire with a 74, 10 shots back.

"I didn't finish off the round when I needed to," said the disappointed defending champion.

Tiger has his work cut out for him as he'll have to play his second round on Saturday when more rain is predicted.

Paul Casey Disappoints

Paul Casey, the third-ranked player in the world, shot himself in the foot with a first-round 75.

Casey was a pre-tournament player to watch but, like Woods, was on the bad end of the draw.

Equally as bad as Casey was former Masters champion Zach Johnson, who also shot 75.

No Luck of the Irish for Harrington

Perhaps it was the entire group performing poorly. No one in the Tiger Woods' group played well, especially Paddy Harrington. Harrington was four-over through six, five-over through seven and was fortunate to end up with 76.

He'll have to rally in the second round to make the cut.

Likewise, the third member of the Woods group, Angel Cabrera, didn't fare much better. He tied Tiger with 74.

Big Ernie Takes a Big Flop

Ernie Els used to be a favorite in every major.

These days, he's a favorite to miss cuts.

First round at Bethpage was no different. Els shot 40 on his opening nine (back nine) then limped in with a 38 for 78 and can probably count on being back with the gang at the waterside Square Grouper in Jupiter come Sunday.

Dishonorable Mention for Boo

Boo Weekley can pretty much pack his bags and tell the guys down in Milton he'll be home early.

Boo was manhandled by Bethpage. He shot 79, 14 shots off Mike Weir's pace.

Boo wasn't alone, there were plenty others to share his misery but he was basically the high "name player" in the field.

There you have it, the good and the bad.

That's the way Opens go.