SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — Keith Mitchell’s tee shot hooked and fell into the tough on his first swing within the opening spherical of the 126th U.S. Open on Thursday at Sinek Hills Golf Membership.
It took 4 extra strokes to succeed in the inexperienced, leading to a double-bogey six strokes.
Mitchell’s first 9 holes on the again 9 weren’t nice, with bogeys at Nos. 11, 13, 14 and 16, and he completed with a 6-over 41.
What occurred subsequent on the entrance 9 put Mitchell within the U.S. Open document books.
Remarkably, Mitchell birdied the primary three holes of the entrance 9 and made an eagle on the par-5 fifth. He added a birdie on the ninth, ending with a 6-under 29 for half the course.
Mitchell turned the primary golfer to shoot a 29 on the entrance 9 at Sinek Hills and the seventh participant in U.S. Open historical past to document a nine-hole rating of 29. Neil Lancaster shot 29 on the again 9 within the closing spherical of 1995, in line with the Elias Sports activities Bureau.
In accordance with Justin Ray of The Athletic, that is the primary time within the 126-year historical past of the U.S. Open {that a} golfer has scored below 40 on one 9 and over 30 on the opposite 9 in the identical spherical.
At an even-par 70, Mitchell was two pictures behind early clubhouse chief Sam Stevens when the early wave of golfers ended.
It appeared like they had been going to fall additional again till Mitchell made a surprising comeback.
The primary par-4, Mitchell opted for driver on the 396-yard gap. He hit a 339-yard drive down the suitable facet of the green, and the ball stopped 51 yards from the opening. Mitchell sank a 12-foot putt for his first birdie of the spherical. It will not be his final.
After driving 338 yards on the par-3 No. 3, Mitchell edged his method to three.5 ft for birdie. On No. 4, he sunk 10.5 ft for birdie. On No. 5, he drove a 358-yard drive down the green and hit a 13-foot method from 229 yards for eagle.
Mitchell made an 8.5-foot putt for birdie on the ninth, tying the bottom nine-hole rating in U.S. Open historical past.
