DOUG FERGUSON of the AP writes:
The focus fell to golf’s biggest stars, with fans crammed together a dozen deep in spots at Torrey Pines to see how Tiger Woods dealt with a tender knee and whether Phil Mickelson could overcome so much U.S. Open heartache in his hometown.
The lead belonged to the obscure.
Kevin Streelman and Justin Hicks, neither among the top 600 in the world ranking, each shot 3-under 68 on Thursday to borrow the spotlight and take a one-shot lead in the opening round of a U.S. Open that showed a slightly softer side.
They were among 11 players who broke par at Torrey Pines, after only two were in red numbers after the first round last year.
Woods and Mickelson were not among them, then or now.
The world’s No. 1 player grimaced and pursed his lips, unable to disguise his pain. No, it wasn’t his left knee that had cartilage cleaned out during a surgery two months ago. It was a three-putt to close out his 1-over 72, leaving him four shots out of the lead and one shot behind Mickelson, who shot 71 without a driver in the bag.
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