US Open Golf 2012: Phil Mickelson Won't Recover from Dreadful Round 1

Phil Mickelson has been decent in Rounds 2 and 3 of the U.S. Open, but the treacherous Olympic course dealt Lefty an unrecoverable hand on Day 1. He shot a nasty 76 on Thursday, and despite two competitive one-over rounds on Friday and Saturday, Mickelson is +8 and too far down the leaderboard to be relevant.

This is no way to celebrate a birthday. Mickelson turned 42 yesterday, and hoped to make a move up the leaderboard. But the wicked San Francisco golf course would have none of it.

Mickelson would have to shoot the best round of his life, and have the leaders experience widespread collapses to get back in the picture.

This course is just too difficult to make up significant ground in a day.

Mickelson's rivalry with Tiger Woods was put to sleep before it began this time around. Tiger remains a threat heading into the final day, and Lefty is left to play out the string.

He isn't the only big name that is no longer a factor. In fact, as many of the favorites go, he has done well to still be competing.

Both Bubba Watson and defending champion Rory McIlroy missed the cut after Round 2. The pre-tournament talk was focused on Tiger, Rory, Phil and Bubba, but only Tiger has been able to live up to the advanced billing.

Like the true competitor that he is, Mickleson still believes he has a shot. The Times of India quoted Lefty as followed when he was asked, if he still had a shot on the final day: 

"

"It depends," he said. "I've got to play a good solid round ... I have to shoot three- or four-under par to have a chance for Sunday. 

"It's out there, but it's very difficult."

"

I simply don't see that as realistic, but perhaps a man can dream—especially on his birthday.

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