US Open Golf Results 2012: Biggest Disappointments on Thursday

Tiger Woods may have played well on Day 1 at the U.S. Open—finishing with a one-under 69—but several golfers were major disappointments, including both players Woods was grouped with on Thursday.

Oh, and there was one golfer I was disappointed for, though his struggles were understandable. I'll explain below.

Let's take a look at some of the disappointing developments from Thursday's play.

Phil Mickelson

I was not expecting Mr. Mickelson to shoot a six-over 76 to open this tournament. Yes, I know the course at the Olympic Club is difficult, but a six-over for Mickelson?

Unexpected.

It's not often that Mickelson bogeys seven holes and finds himself in danger of missing the cut. It was ugly from the start, after Lefty put the ball in the trees on the first hole he played and bogeyed the hole.

With one poor day, Mickelson may have blown his chance to win his first-ever U.S. Open. At this point, Lefty's only concern will be qualifying to play this weekend.

Bubba Watson

So much for the top group.

Tiger Woods did his part, but Watson—who shot an atrocious eight-over 78—stunk up the joint on Thursday.

Coming in, we knew how unpredictable Watson's play could be, even after his win at the Masters. And while anyone can have an off day at this course, no one would have imagined an afternoon in which Watson bogeyed seven holes and double-bogeyed another.

Like Mickelson, Watson will be hoping just to make the cut. Unlike Mickelson, I don't hold out much hope that he can accomplish the feat.

Andy Zhang

Let's get one thing straight—I'm not disappointed in Zhang, I'm disappointed for the 14-year-old. I was desperately hoping he would make the cut at this tournament.

I mean, how cool would that have been?

Chances aren't good for Zhang after he shot a nine-over 79 on Thursday, however. The fact that he made the tournament at all is incredible, and he need not hang his head at all, especially given the fact that he's only one shot behind Masters champion Watson.

And there are a lot of positives to be taken out of his performance, like the fact that he birdied two holes and rattled off seven pars in a row from No. 9 to 15.

Most encouraging is the fact that Zhang has kept his performance in perspective. From USA Today:

"

"It was really tough," Zhang said. "I didn't hit the ball quite well, but my putting was OK. So, but the course is really tough. So I'm actually OK with what I shot today; 7 over par, 79. At least I broke 80."

All in all not bad for the youngest player in modern U.S. Open history.

"I am really proud of myself, actually," Zhang said. "Well I shouldn't say proud, I'm really happy to be here. I'm really honored especially that those other guys that I watch on TV growing up and having them talk about me, that's really an honor."

"

So I'm disappointed you probably won't make the cut, Mr. Zhang—that would have been such an awesome conclusion to this already fantastic story, and an amazing achievement for you.

But I'm also incredibly impressed that you are playing this event in the first place and handling yourself with grace and poise. Good luck to you on Friday.

Hit me up on Twitter—my tweets really wanted to have another.