Mickelson likes setup for Open

Lone exception for Lefty is par-5 16th, whichwas lengthened to 619 yards.

Phil Mickelson believes ShinnecockHills SOUTHAMPTON,N.Y.— is one of the best setups he’s ever seen for a U.S. Open. At least for 17 of the holes.

The course where Mickelson twice contended on Sunday has been lengthened by some 450 yards. That doesn’t bother Lefty, especially the 14th hole, which has been stretched by an additional 76 yards from2004. It now is 519 yards, the longest of the par 4s.

Mickelson, who also has a golf course design company, likes it when the hard holes are harder and the easy holes are easier.

“So when they take 14, which is a very hard par 4, and they make it harder and move the tee back, I actually like that a lot because it allows for the players that are playingwell to make up strokes on the field by making pars,” he said.

WARREN LITTLE / GETTY IMAGES U.S. Opencontinued Phil Mickelson said the setup at Shinnecock Hills was one of the best he has seen for aU.S. Open. The course has been lengthened by about 450 yards since 2004.