With one major already in his pocket, Phil Mickelson, tied with Shigeki Maruyama, makes a strong move for a second.
By BOB HARIG
Published June 19, 2004
SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. - The goofy grin used to be forced, sort of like the head-scratching shots that often led to problems. Today, Phil Mickelson's smile is genuine, his strategy sound, his game solid. What a difference.
The man who once had all the answers while coming up blank in golf's biggest tournaments now has a plan.
Instead of driving full speed, he maneuvers with precision, often throttling back. Instead of trying to pull off the heroic shot, he settles for the smart one, often getting better results.
For Mickelson, the result is major success.
The reigning Masters champion, Mickelson shot 4-under-par 66 on Friday at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club to share the 36-hole lead at the 104th U.S. Open with Japan's Shigeki Maruyama.
After going 0-for-42 in majors as a pro, Mickelson is trying to go 2-for-2.
"I have said that I've always believed I would have had one major by age 34, and now that I have, I really haven't felt that sense of relief," Mickelson said. "What I have felt is a sense of excitement and anticipation. I can't wait for the upcoming majors now because I feel like I'm onto something to play well in the big tournaments."
Only Maruyama could flash a wider grin than Mickelson. The animated, happy-go-lucky Japanese star has an engaging personality thwarted only by a language barrier. Maruyama, a three-time PGA Tour winner who shared the first-round lead with Jay Haas and Angel Cabrera, shot 68.
"I can expect everybody rooting for Phil," Maruyama said through an interpreter. "I played the first two days at the Masters with Phil. Everybody is saying, "Phil, Phil, Phil, Phil.' I'll get earplugs (today)."
Mickelson and Maruyama are at 134, 6 under par. Jeff Maggert, who has six top-10s at the U.S. Open, shot 67 to finish at 135, a shot back. Fred Funk (66) and 2001 U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen (66) are tied for fourth, two shots back, with Cabrera (71) and two-time Open champion Ernie Els three back at 137.
Els, who finished second to Mickelson at the Masters, used a stretch of four straight birdies to move into contention. He was 3 over par after three holes on Thursday. Haas, 50, bidding to become the oldest major championship winner, shot 74 to drop to even-par 140. He is tied for 12th.
Then there is Tiger Woods, the world's No. 1-ranked player, who went 27 holes before making his second birdie of the tournament. Woods bogeyed his first hole, then grinded out a 69 to finish at 141, seven strokes back. He is in a tie for 18th place.
For a time, Woods appeared in danger of missing the 36-hole cut, but made it easily, running his six-year streak to 125 in a row. A bunch of big names won't be playing at Shinnecock Hills this weekend, however.
Past major championship winners David Toms, Justin Leonard, Davis Love and Fred Couples all missed the cut. So did Adam Scott, Kenny Perry and Darren Clarke. There were 68 players who made the cut at 145, 5 over par.
Mickelson, meanwhile, kept humming alone, a huge crowd favorite. Two years ago on Long Island, when Woods was winning his seventh major championship out of 11 at the U.S. Open at Bethpage Black, Mickelson was still the gallery darling.
Now it is Mickelson who has a chance for the Masters-U.S. Open double, a feat that only five others have accomplished.
Two years ago, at the Players Championship, Mickelson famously said that he would never change his attacking style because to do otherwise would not be "fun." Now he is a model of consistency.
Through two rounds, Mickelson has just one bogey. Mickelson had four birdies and no bogeys during the second round, hitting 11 of 14 fairways and 15 of 18 greens.
Finally, after more than a decade, Mickelson appears to have learned some valuable lessons, especially when it comes to playing majors.
"The style of golf needed in major championships is significantly different than a regular tour event, which seems to be more attack, attack, attack. The majors seem to be something different," Mickelson said. "I feel like after winning Augusta, the preparation I had, the style of shots and so forth I have worked on, seem to be allowing me to play and score well in the majors, and now I look forward to and can't wait for them to come."
Just like he did at Augusta National before the Masters, Mickelson visited Shinnecock Hills two weeks ago with instructor Rick Smith and short-game guru Dave Pelz. During practice rounds, he studied the course and worked on certain shots he would need for the tournament.
"I certainly plan on instilling it in future majors, and I like the way it's been working here at the Open," he said.
