Page 22 - ARUBA TODAY

A22 SPORTS
Wednesday 13 June 2018
Mickelson trying not to look ahead at another U.S. Open chance

By DOUG FERGUSON was home Friday night."
SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. (AP) Mickelson hasn't had a
— Phil Mickelson is running chance since his sixth run-
out of time. ner-up finish in 2013 at Mer-
Mickelson doesn't need to ion, where he twice made
be reminded that this is his bogey with a wedge in his
27th appearance in the hand over the last six holes.
U.S. Open, more than any This is the longest stretch —
of the 156 players at Shin- three U.S. Opens — that he
necock Hills. He wouldn't has failed to even feature
want to be reminded that on the weekend.
65 players — including The oldest player to win the
the last four major cham- U.S. Open was Hale Irwin,
pions — were not even who was 45 when he won
born when Mickelson was at Medinah in 1990 — Mick-
low amateur in his first U.S. elson's first major.
Open in 1990 at Medinah. "That's the marvelous thing
"I just can't believe that about Phil Mickelson. You
time has flown by so fast," don't put anything beyond
he said Monday. his talents," said David Du-
The desire hasn't changed, val, who has competed
only the emphasis. against Mickelson since
Mickelson didn't win a ma- college. In the last few
jor until he was 33 and in his This photo taken May 10, 2018, shows Phil Mickelson hitting from the 11th tee during the first round weeks, Mickelson has said
12th full year on the PGA of the Players Championship golf tournament in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. he doesn't want to get too
Tour. Back then, any ma- Associated Press wrapped up in how the
jor would have sufficed. A golf course sets up, other
year after he won the 2004 courses. even, I could have won," delivered on four separate than he think it's the best
Masters, he added a PGA He had a one-shot lead Mickelson said. occasions during his inter- ever for a U.S. Open. The
Championship. And then with two holes to play in This is not a time for Mickel- views. fairways are slightly wider,
in 2013 at Muirfield, he sur- 2004 when Retief Goosen son, who turns 48 on Satur- "These three (courses) pro- which should help. Most
prised even himself by cap- made a 12-foot birdie putt day, to be looking behind. vide me a great opportuni- of the rough around the
turing the British Open. in the group behind him on He doesn't want to look for- ty to finish out this final leg," green has been shaved
One to go for the career the par-5 16th, and then ward, either. he said. "Certainly, with down, playing to another
Grand Slam, the one that Mickelson put his tee shot Never mind that Mickelson the way I've been playing of his strength because he
has vexed him the most. in the bunker on the par-3 has played well on the next this year and at the con- has such a wide variety of
He has more runner-up 17th, blasted out to 5 feet three U.S. Open courses — sistent level, as well as at a short-game shots instead
finishes in the U.S. Open and took all the air out of Shinnecock Hills, Pebble much higher level than I've of just hacking out of thick
than the other three majors the Hamptons when he Beach and Winged Foot. played the last few years, grass. "I feel as though the
combined. So when Mick- three-putted for double Or that with a victory ear- it gives me a great oppor- luck of a courses has been
elson was asked if he had bogey. lier this year at the Mexico tunity. But the last thing I'm taken out as much as pos-
unfinished business at Shin- In his first U.S. Open at Shin- Championship that his con- thinking about right now is sible to where skill is the
necock Hills, he paused necock Hills in 1995, he was fidence level is higher than trying to win. I'm trying to primary factor," Mickelson
briefly before delivering an one shot out of the lead the four previous years get myself in position for the said. "I think we're going to
obvious answer. going into the final round, when he didn't win at all. weekend. Because when have a great leaderboard
"I can say that a few times closed with a 74 and fin- Mickelson only cares about you try to go out and win and a great tournament."
in this tournament," he said. ished four shots behind. posting a score in the open- a U.S. Open, you will lose it All he cares about is being
It helps that Mickelson has More than a tough final ing round Thursday that will quick." part of that leaderboard
a strong history at Shin- round was playing the par- keep him in the mix, and Asked if he had ever tried on the weekend, and then
necock Hills, which he re- 5 16th hole in 6 over for the then repeating the process to win a U.S. Open on Thurs- take his chances from
fers to as one of his favorite week. "If I played that hole Friday. It's a message he day, he replied, "Yes, and I there.q
Olympic skier Bode Miller's toddler daughter drowns in pool

By BRIAN MELLEY blonde, blue-eyed, chub- ence a pain like this," Miller
Associated Press by-cheeked toddler. said in the post. "Her love,
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The In a video, Emmy, as she her light, her spirit will never
19-month-old daughter of was known, was being be forgotten.
U.S. Olympic skier Bode Mill- kissed on the check by her Our little girl loved life and
er drowned in a Southern mother Morgan, a profes- lived it to its fullest every
California swimming pool, sional beach volleyball day."
authorities said Monday. player, as she repeatedly The death was under inves-
Emeline Miller died at an said, "Hi Dada." tigation, Orange County
Orange County hospi- One photo showed her sheriff's spokeswoman Car-
tal Sunday, the day after covered in suds in a tub rie Braun said.
paramedics tried unsuc- and another showed her Paramedics were called to
cessfully to revive her after smiling as she pushed two a home in the upscale en-
the drowning incident. baby dolls in a pink stroll- clave of Coto de Caza just
In this Jan. 25, 2014 file photo, Bode Miller and his wife Morgan "We are beyond devas- er on a street with large before 6:30 p.m. Saturday,
smile at the men's World Cup downhill in Kitzbuehel, Austria. tated," Miller said in an In- homes in the background. said Capt. Tony Bommarito
Associated Press stagram post that showed "Never in a million years did of the Orange County Fire
several photos of the we think we would experi- Authority.q