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06/15/2007 - Oakmont, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Phil Mickelson wore a black brace on his injured left wrist Thursday during the first round of the U.S. Open. He took it off to putt, revealing a bandage underneath.
Mickelson opened with a four-over 74 at Oakmont and was six shots off Nick Dougherty's lead.
"I feel like I hung in there, and I'm excited to still be in it," he said.
Questions about the condition of Mickelson's wrist diverted talk, at least for a day, from his collapse at the 72nd hole at Winged Foot last year. The injury forced his withdrawal two weeks ago from the Memorial and caused him to miss a scheduled start last week in Memphis.
But the wrist looked OK as Mickelson blasted out to within inches from a bunker on the back nine, and he appeared comfortable making putts like the 12- footer he rolled in for par at his 16th hole (No. 7).
"I'm not overly disappointed," he said. "It could have been a round that got away from me."
Mickelson said he may have injured the wrist while chipping from the long rough at Oakmont during a practice round ahead of the Memorial. He was back Thursday, and the rough was just as penal.
Not exactly the place you want to test out an injured wrist.
"This isn't the course you want to do that," Mickelson said. "[The wrist] got a little bit more sore, but I was able to trust that it was okay."
OAKMONT PLAYING EASY?
Not really.
Playing in an early morning tee time, Dougherty made four birdies and two bogeys to take the lead, then said Oakmont was playing "easy." Not that he wanted everyone to know he said that.
"I hate saying it ... Especially if a USGA official picks up on that," he added. "It's still frightfully tough out there."
The scoring average was 75.32, down from 75.98 in the first round at Winged Foot last year but still almost six shots over par, meaning even the players who shot 75 and 76 were right in the middle of the pack.
The only hole that played under-par was the 609-yard, par-five fourth, which played to a 4.974 average. The toughest hole was the par-four 18th, which played to an average of 4.654 shots.
There were 17 scores in the 80s and just two in the 60s (Dougherty's 68 and Angel Cabrera's 69).
Statistically, the first round at this year's Masters was tougher with a 76.188 average.
OPEN NOTES
- A funny thing happened to Tom Byrum at the par-four ninth: He holed out from the fairway ... into the wrong hole. Turns out the No. 9 green is big enough to also serve as the practice green for the championship, and Byrum found one of those holes. Get used to seeing players back there this weekend, but don't get used to seeing players hole out. Even into the wrong cup.
- Defending champion Geoff Ogilvy opened with a one-over 71 and was tied with a large group that included Tiger Woods, Jim Furyk and Vijay Singh. He also opened with a 71 last year at Winged Foot.
- If Ogilvy has hopes of repeating, history isn't exactly on his side. The player to successfully defend his U.S. Open title was Curtis Strange in 1989.
- There were two eagles posted in the morning wave of tee times -- by Stuart Appleby and Michael Block -- and none by the players who teed off in the afternoon.
- Rhys Davies and John Kelly shared low amateur honors for the first round with four-over 74s.
- There are players from 20 countries and 27 U.S. states competing this week.
<< Datsyuk takes home second straight Lady Byng Trophy
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Pavel Datsyuk of the Detroit Red Wings won
the 2007 Lady Byng Trophy, awarded annually to the player who combines
sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct with excellence on the ice.
Datsyuk, who led
<< SPL schedule announced
Edinburgh, Scotland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 2007-08 Scottish Premier League
schedule was released on Thursday, but football fans will have to wait until
late October to see Celtic and Rangers collide for the first time.
Defending Champ
<< Vancouver coach Vigneault wins Jack Adams Award
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Vancouver Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault
won the 2007 Jack Adams Award for the top coach in the league as voted by the
NHL Broadcasters' Association on Thursday.
Vigneault, who is the first Vancouver
<< Malkin named NHL's top rookie
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin won what teammate
Sidney Crosby did not, as he took home the Calder Memorial Trophy as the best
rookie in the NHL on Thursday night.
Malkin, who is the first Penguin to win the C
O's waste opportunities, go down to Nationals >>
Baltimore, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ryan Zimmerman knocked in the go-ahead run in
the eighth inning as the Washington Nationals edged the Baltimore Orioles,
3-1, to sweep a three-game interleague set with their Beltway rival.
Jason Simontac
Sid the Kid has big night at 2007 NHL awards >>
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sidney Crosby finished his fantastic season
with another two awards to go with his Art Ross trophy, as he garnered the
Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player and was also awarded
the Le
Spurs hold slim lead over Cavs at halftime >>
Cleveland, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tim Duncan hasn't made a field goal while
Tony Parker has missed just one, all adding up to San Antonio's 39-34 edge
over Cleveland in an attempt to sweep the NBA Finals and hoist its fourth
champio
Eddie Pope to retire after season >>
Salt Lake City, UT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Shortly before Real Salt Lake's match
at Rice-Eccles Stadium against FC Dallas on Thursday night, defender Eddie
Pope announced that he will retire from Major League Soccer at the end of the
2007 se
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BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.
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