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U.S. Open 2019: Bold predictions for the week at Pebble Beach

By Brandon Raper

PEBBLE BEACH, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 12: Tommy Fleetwood of England plays a shot from the third tee during a practice round prior to the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links on June 12, 2019 in Pebble Beach, California. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PEBBLE BEACH, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 12: Tommy Fleetwood of England plays a shot from the third tee during a practice round prior to the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links on June 12, 2019 in Pebble Beach, California. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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Phil Mickelson U.S. Open 2019 Pebble Beach Bold Predictions
PEBBLE BEACH, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 11: Phil Mickelson of the United States plays a second shot on the sixth hole during a practice round prior to the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links on June 11, 2019 in Pebble Beach, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Phil Mickelson misses the cut at the U.S. Open

Okay, let’s get this one out of the way first. I don’t WANT this to happen to Phil. I’ve been dying alongside him – and many of you reading this – for what feels like ages. Each time he’s finished second at the U.S. Open is like another dagger, because you just want so badly for him to win the one that’s gotten away for this long.

But, alas, this week might be one of his toughest tests yet. I wrote the other day that I believe he can win this week, and I still do. However, it’s going to take the best of literally everything he’s got in his game. He’ll need to play smart golf and hit fairways with laser precision; hitting bombs is awesome, but making birdies instead of bogeys is way better. He’ll need his legendary short game in top form, and frankly, he’ll need a little bit of magic with the putter on Pebble’s miniscule greens.

As much as I want this to happen, as much as I believe it can happen…I just don’t know if he’s got it all in him this week.

But wait, you say! Phil won the Pebble Beach Pro-Am just this year! And you’re right, but that was four months ago. Since then, his best finish on Tour is his tie for 18th at the Masters. He’s missed four cuts in his last eight stroke-play starts. The results just haven’t been there for me to have a high level of confidence in Lefty.

Mickelson is currently 208th on Tour in driving accuracy, 102nd in greens in regulation, and 137th in strokes gained putting. He sits just 54th in adjusted scoring, and he’s shot 76 or worse four times in his last eight rounds. None of that is a recipe for success at Pebble Beach.

It’ll be heartbreaking, but I can’t shake the feeling that Phil is headed for an early trip home.

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