News
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Second Fiddle In An All-Star Trio
With Adam Scott nursing a broken bone near his pinky finger, the 27-year-old Australian carded a 2-over 73. (John Mummert/USGA)
San Diego – If you’ve ever wanted to know what it feels like to be the tiny little prize inside a box of Cracker Jack, the one you have to search long and hard to find, ask Adam Scott.
Although the No. 3-ranked player in the world should never be confused with John Doe, Scott was clearly the third wheel during the first round of the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines on Thursday. The 27-year-old Australian might be the current titleholder of the “Best Player To Never Win A Major” label, but he happened to be playing with two of the “Best Known Players To Ever Win A Major.”
And for the throng who were California Dreamin,’ the thousands who crowded the bluffs looking over the Pacific to catch a glimpse of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson sharing a tee box – at least in relative terms - the estimable Aussie could have been a non-competing marker.
“I know it’s a big pairing,” said Scott, who also came in third on the match of scorecards, posting a 2-over 73, one behind Woods, two behind Mickelson and five strokes off the early clubhouse lead of Justin Hicks.
“There’s a lot of hoopla about it. But … I played with Phil a lot in majors. It seems like I get drawn with him a lot. But I enjoy playing with Tiger, as well. I find it is a lot easier to focus, because I think I’ve got to be a lot more disciplined.”
Never mind the fact Mickelson and Woods represent the closest professional golf can get to a Hatfield-McCoy rivalry, many were simply excited to see Woods compete for the first time since April 13. Two days after playing in the final round of the Masters, Woods underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee to remove loose cartilage.
Few injuries in sports have drawn more attention. In fact, Woods’s condition grabbed so many headlines that an injury to Scott went largely unnoticed, or should we say misdiagnosed.
In the days leading up to the 108th playing of the U.S. Open, it was reported Scott had broken the “pinky’ finger on his right hand. After his Incredible Adventure with Woods and Mickelson on Thursday, Scott cleared things up.
“It’s not my finger, anyway, it’s my hand,” said Scott, whose six PGA Tour wins include the 2004 Players Championship and 2006 Tour Championship. “But it doesn’t really affect my golf swing, so I’m pretty lucky to be playing.
“It’s pretty miserable. A friend slammed my hand in a [car] door.”
Scott indicated he wouldn’t be playing were he among those who use an interlocking grip. Instead, he uses the overlap method, which allows him to get away with the sore hand.
“Obviously, it hasn’t healed yet, it’s only been a couple of weeks since I broke it,” Scott added. “But it’s strong enough to where I can play and it’s improved a lot in the last five days since I got here. So, it’s been no problem.”
Scott also indicated dealing with the masses that followed his group was no problem. “It wasn’t too bad, really,” he said.
Considered one of golf’s matinee idols, the curly-haired Scott has his share of fans – many of whom fell into the young female demographic. And while some were expecting a Roman Coliseum-like environment, Mickelson, a San Diego native, felt the galleries were well behaved.
“I thought it was great,” said Mickelson. “Everybody was so respectful. There were not any derogatory remarks. Whether they pulled for any of the three of us, everybody was really cool today.”
The marquee matchup will be at it again on Friday, with a later starting time (1:36 p.m. PDT off the 10th tee). Scott, who has never finished higher than a tie for 21st in six previous U.S. Opens, said he is looking forward to it. And if he can make a few more putts, he might just steal some thunder from his higher-profile partners.
“I felt like I played really well today,” said Scott, who had three birdies, “and I didn’t really make any putts. So my game didn’t feel too bad. If I could get a few putts …”
He’ll get his share of applause, Woods vs. Mickelson notwithstanding.
Phillip Howley is a freelance writer whose work has appeared previously on www.usopen.com .
