Henley grabs early US Open lead
AMERICAN Russell Henley sank an 11-foot birdie putt to close a four under-par 67 opening round and seize the early clubhouse lead on Thursday at the US Open while Phil Mickelson struggled in his bid to complete a career Grand Slam.
Henley, who hasn’t won a PGA title since the 2017 Houston Open and has never managed a top-10 major finish, made three birdies and a bogey on both the front and back nines to set the pace at Torrey Pines.
“Over the last year, I’ve played the best golf I’ve played consistently in my career. I feel like I have more of a complete game,” Henley said. “But I haven’t finished top 10 in majors or anything. I want to play better in the majors.”
Italy’s Francesco Molinari, the 2018 British Open champion, and Spain’s Rafa Cabrera-Bello, a back-nine starter who holed out from just inside 60 feet to eagle the 18th, shared second on 68.
World number 63 Henley said his key closing putt “was a good way to finish off a good day”.
A day after his 51st birthday, hometown hero Mickelson stumbled to a 75 with three bogeys in his first six holes. He recovered but still entered the clubhouse eight off the pace.