After Round 1, a Big Crowd in the Mid-70s

Sometimes it’s hard to tell what a good score is during the first round of the United States Open, although anything close to par usually qualifies. But Thursday, more than a third of the field posted scores from two-over 73 to four-over 75.

Those scores seemed to be a magnet, especially to a multitude of players with serious pretournament aspirations. The list in this grouping included the defending champion Lucas Glover, who shot 73, and the two-time winner Ernie Els, who had the same score. Also at 73 was Sergio Garcia, whom many expected to have several major championships by now, and Padraig Harrington, who helped deprive Garcia of perhaps his best chance to win a major at the 2007 British Open.

Tiger Woods was at 74 and Phil Mickelson at 75. Joining him at that mark were the past champions Angel Cabrera and Retief Goosen along with David Duval, Rory McIlroy and Steve Stricker.
What’s it mean?
“It means it’s the U.S. Open and it’s tough out there,” Mickelson said.
Or, there was Woods’s analysis along the same lines.
“It’s means it’s the U.S. Open and there’s a long way to go,” Woods said.


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