U.S. Open 2016: Phil Mickelson, Jason Day battle different distractions
Phil Mickelson and Jason Day are both trying to manage other parts of their lives in the lead up to Oakmont
By
Kyle Porter
•
1 min read
Beware the ... distracted golfer?
Phil Mickelson and Jason Day are both battling various distractions in their personal lives as the U.S. Open settles in at Oakmont this week. For Mickelson, it's the same thing it was back in 2013 when he flew home for his daughter's 8th grade graduation. Different daughter this week, same graduation.
Mickelson is leaving on Monday night after practice. According to ESPN, this will only wipe out Mickelson's practice round on Tuesday and not affect the rest of his week.
Mickelson's spokesman confirmed that the Hall of Fame golfer would be back in time to practice and do media interviews on Wednesday.
This actually might be a good thing for Mickelson, who turns 46 on Thursday. Last time he did it (in 2013) he finished second to Justin Rose at Merion. It gets his mind off the fact that he's finished runner up at this championship six times.
Day, on the other hand, is battling some physical ailments, which has become par for the course for him at majors. From the vertigo last summer at Chambers Bay to flu-like symptoms at this year's Masters, Day seems to be injured more often than not.
This time around, it's apparently a cold as he told Golf Channel.
Day also noted how treacherous the mental land mines are at Oakmont.
"You start doing that, you start making mental errors," Day told Golf Channel. "You start having bogeys, you certainly bring in a lot of double bogeys, because it's very easy to do that around here."
Last year's winner Jordan Spieth agreed with Day.
"You can't let your mind slip on these greens for one moment, or else you're going to be left with possibly a 10- to 15-footer on the next putt, if not worse," said Spieth on Monday. "So really have to be cautious of it."
And this is the crux of any U.S. Open, right? You have to be mentally engaged for 72 holes. Not 68. Not 70. Not 71. All 72 or you just have no chance to get the job done.
It remains to be seen whether Mickelson and Day's distractions will derail these effort or help narrow their focus come Thursday. Oakmont's wicked terrain will surely reveal it soon enough.
