BETHESDA, MD. - Phil Mickelson's U.S. Open ended where it began, in the same body of water.
On his last hole of the championship Sunday, Mickelson stood in a greenside bunker launched a rainbow that splashed on the fly, some 15 feet beyond the other side of the peninsula green. Even the adoring gallery that had cheered so loudly during his walk up the fairway couldn't help but let out a collective giggle.
After two unsuccessful drops on the steep lakeside slope, he had to place the ball and chip back toward the pin, where he made a 6-footer for double bogey to finish an even par round of 71 and a 7-over total of 291.
"That bunker's not an easy spot to be in today," he said, "and I hit a poor shot on top of it."
The lake also received Mickelson's opening shot Thursday, when he started on the nearby par-3 10th and left his tee shot well short. He double bogeyed that hole as well.
Mickelson's 69 on Friday was his only round under par on a course receptive for U.S. Open scores lower than the norm.
Where are the Americans?There wasn't much of an American presence on the leaderboard at Congressional. Only two Americans finished in the top 10, neither a household name. PGA Tour rookie Kevin Chappell and 33-year-old Robert Garrigus, who missed the cut in his two previous Opens, were part of a four-way tie for third at 6-under 278.
The United States has gone five consecutive majors without a victory. The drought is the longest for since 1910, before the Masters or PGA Championship were played.
