US OPEN: Mickelson thankful for small mercies after solid opening

Such is the grind involved in competing at a US Open that it is little wonder Phil Mickelson celebrated sinking a first round bogey putt at Chambers Bay last night as if it was a major-clinching birdie.

Mickelson has ticked that box five times but he has famously not done so at his national championship.

Six times the left-hander has come up agonisingly short and been forced to settle for second place in a US Open but yesterday in Washington State his bid to finally get over the finishing line and with it complete a career Grand Slam of majors got off to an encouraging start, his avoidance of a double bogey at the 14th hole as significant as any of the three birdies he sank in an opening, one under par 69.