Keith Mitchell’s seesaw opening round makes US Open history
SOUTHAMPTON, NY — Keith Mitchell‘s first swing in Thursday’s opening round of the 126th US Open resulted in a hooked tee shot that ended up within the tough at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club.
He wanted 4 extra strokes to achieve the inexperienced, leading to a double-bogey 6.
Mitchell’s opening 9 holes on the again 9 did not get significantly better, as he made bogeys on Nos. 11, 13, 14 and 16 and made the flip at 6-over 41.
What occurred on the entrance 9 after that put Mitchell within the US Open file books.
Remarkably, Mitchell made birdies on three of the primary 4 holes on the entrance 9 after which carded an eagle on the par-5 fifth. He added one other birdie on the ninth to card a 6-under 29 on that half of the course.
Mitchell grew to become the primary golfer to put up 29 on the entrance 9 at Shinnecock Hills and recorded simply the seventh nine-hole rating of 29 in US Open history. Neal Lancaster shot 29 on the again 9 within the remaining round in 1995, based on Elias Sports Bureau.
It’s the primary time within the 126-year history of the US Open {that a} golfer scored 40 or worse on one 9 and higher than 30 on the opposite in the identical round, based on Justin Ray of The Athletic.
At even-par 70, Mitchell was two strokes behind early clubhouse chief Sam Stevens when the early wave of golfers completed. (Wyndham Clark was 6 beneath by 16 holes when play was suspended).
It appeared like Mitchell could be a lot additional behind till his unbelievable turnaround.
On the par-4 first, Mitchell elected to hit driver on the 396-yard gap. He hit a 339-yard drive down the best facet of the golf green, and his ball stopped 51 yards from the outlet. Mitchell made a 12-foot putt for his first birdie of the round. It would not be his final.
After a 338-yard drive on the par-3 third, Mitchell hit his method to 3½ ft for birdie. He made a 10½-footer for birdie on the fourth. On the fifth, he smacked a 358-yard drive down the golf green and hit his method from 229 yards to 13 ft to arrange an eagle.
On the ninth, Mitchell made an 8½-foot putt for birdie to match the bottom nine-hole rating in US Open history.
