2018 US OPEN: Shinnecock Hills in N.Y.

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The conditions are as good as can be expected today.....beautiful and sunny with a light wind from the west. I expect to see the wind pick up this afternoon for the later groups.

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Zack Johnson birdies the first hole today and is off to a good start. Mickelson and Johnston both par the first two holes.

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Phil Mickelson is leading the field after two rounds in fairways hit.....27 out of 29. That's an interesting stat. But I think a better stat is most greens in regulation. Not sure about fewest putts......that stat can be misleading, LOL. But it's still a positive stat. I'll take the most greens in regulation every time over the other two......especially on this golf course.

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Tony Finau has one par, two bogeys, and two birdies so far.....so he's roller coastering at even par, LOL today.

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Mickelson stays at even par thru the first 3 holes today and remains at +6. I think Johnston's character is to take a few more chances and play a little looser than Phil does. This pairing could actually help Phil to play a little looser also.

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Mickelson birdies the 4th hole now......makes a really good putt to go to +5 for the tournament.

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Lots of players from England made the cut this year.....they must know how to play a course like this better than most American players.

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Mickelson did not hit this fairway on #5.....he's in the fairway bunker with a tough shot. He'll have to layup here and take his medicine. Luckily, it's a par 5 hole, but he barely reaches the fairway and gets it out. It was a nasty lie in the bunker and he didn't hit it cleanly enough.

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Nope.....he's in the heather......not even in the fairway. This could be one of those hiccup holes for Phil that you try to avoid.

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Now Mickelson hitting his 4th to the par-5 5th hole from 135 yds out. His ball is against the collar of the rough, but he hits the middle of the green. He's looking at a definite bogey here for sure......unless he sinks a long breaking putt.

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Looks like both Mickelson and Johnston will fall back to the field on this par 5 hole.....both still have work to make their bogey. Phil makes his putt for bogey. He's back to +6. Johnston makes his bogey also......not good against the field on any par 5.

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Patrick Reed from Houston birdies the first hole. Now Jimmy Walker from Boerne hits his approach shot past the pin on the 1st hole. I think both players start today at +5. Reed is already down to +4 after only one hole.

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Johnston and Mickelson hit their approach shots into the long par-4 6th in good shape......both are in range of making their birdie putts.

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Mickelson's downhill fast 26 footer comes up a foot short above the hole. Reed bogeys the 2nd hole. Johnston's putt slides by about 3 feet, but he taps in his par also.

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Mickelson on the par-3 7th teebox now.....a 9 iron for Phil. He lands it short of the pin about 12 feet uphill. Now Johnston's turn. He's hitting an 8 iron. Very similar distance to Phil's shot but rolls sideways and then catches the slope.....it rolls off the green. He hit it with too much backspin.