US Open: Dream match-ups, but a no-name leaderboard

Golf News

Jun 13, 2008, 0:15 GMT

La Jolla, California - The 108th US Open put its best foot forward in terms of pairings on Thursday, bringing together Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Adam Scott for one early tee time. The three represent the Nos. 1, 2 and 3 listings in the World Golf rankings. But the California Dreamin' threesome did not translate into a star-studded early leaderboard. When the high-profile trio, which drew massive galleries, was done for the day, none of the celebrated individuals was close enough to crack the pace-setting marquis. Instead, leading the charge at Torrey Pines Golf Course on the bluffs of the Pacific Ocean was little-known Justin Hicks. The 33-year-old Nationwide Tour veteran carded a 3-under-par 68 to set the early pace. PGA Tour veteran Rocco Mediate, 45, who had to qualify to get into the tournament, was a stroke back with a 69. Australia's Stuart Appleby, who has a slightly more substantial resume of eight PGA Tour wins, was alongside Mediate with a matching 69, as was Eric Axley, a 34-year-old journeyman. Among those who finished, amateur Rickie Fowler, Swede Robert Karlsson and Englishman Lee Westwood were next in line with matching 1-under-par 70s. Fowler, at 19 years and five months, is the youngest player in the field and is making the most of his unusual opportunity. A college sophomore at Oklahoma State, he was the last to be eliminated in an 11-man playoff during sectional qualifying. But Fowler made the party anyway as a first alternate when 2003 PGA Championship winner Shaun Micheel withdrew. As for the Dream Team, Mickelson managed to capture the scrum with an opening-round 71. 'Lefty' came on with a rush, which included a closing birdie on No. 18 and a 3-under 33 on the backside. Woods, who had not played a competitive round in two months, carded a 1-over 72 that included many loose shots. After a double bogey to start his round, the two-time US Open champion demonstrated his magical recovery skills to circle three birdies over the next eight holes - despite some awkward moments - and made the turn at 1-under par. But a double bogey at No. 14 undid much of that work and Woods was unable to post any additional red numbers. By the end of the round, he seemed to be slightly favouring his surgically repaired left knee, which has not been tested since the last round of the Masters on April 13. Meanwhile, Scott, who is dealing with a fracture in his hand, finished with a 72.

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DmitriyJun 13th, 2008 - 01:26:18

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