OAKMONT, Pa. — As Phil Mickelson, aka Lefty, aka Phil the Thrill, aka FIGJAM, aka one of the two most famous golfers of the 21st century, teed off Thursday in what might be his final U.S. Open, there were more security guards than journalists following him. And there were two security guards.

Golf Channel’s Paul McGinley said, "He’s not been himself at all today. His stats are bad and he’s hit a lot of poor shots for him."

DeChambeau followed what his fellow SMU alum, the late Payne Stewart, accomplished 25 years earlier by winning the U.S. Open at Pinehurst. He is looking for his third U.S. Open title. Kim, a Dallas resident, in entering his fourth U.S. Open. His career best finish came in 2023 in Los Angeles (-8).

Scottie Scheffler is known for his stoicism and remaining focused, both on and off the course. But that was apparently not always the case.

OAKMONT, Pa. (AP) — Scottie Scheffler kept coming back to the same answer when asked in different ways how a day that began with optimism at the U.S. Open turned into a 5 1/2-hour slog that left him well off the front page of the leaderboard.

Scheffler was asked if he ever hears from fans who have a financial interest in how he performs. The question was in reference to Scheffler being the overwhelming favorite to win the U.S. Open (+275 at BetMGM), which will start on Thursday.

The World No. 1, Scottie Scheffler, leads the betting odds in every sportsbook, showing a dominance that rivals Tiger Woods' best years.

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OAKMONT, Pa. — The shot doesn’t matter. It could be on the driving range, the first tee box or the 18th fairway — a quiet practice round at home or the Sunday of a major championship. Scottie Scheffler doesn’t go off-script.

After dominating the 2024 season, Scottie Scheffler got off to a slow start relative to expectations in 2025. A ravioli-making incident around Christmas cost him a few months, and he didn't pick up his first win of the year until May, watching as Rory McIlroy surged to three wins and the career grand slam to become the talk of the golf world.

That's when something primal snapped. Scheffler's wedge became the victim of his accumulated fury as he drove it into the Pennsylvania turf. The impact sent a spray of dirt and grass flying, punctuating the afternoon's frustration with an exclamation point that echoed across the suddenly silent gallery.