Six-time major champion Phil Mickelson said one of the reasons he prefers the new LIV Golf Invitational Series is because of its 54-hole events.
Mickelson will probably only have to play 36 holes in the U.S. Open this week.
Mickelson's return to competitive golf in the United States, and his 52nd birthday, didn't go as planned in the first round of the U.S. Open
He carded a 8-over 78 and was tied for 144th place among 154 golfers when he walked off the course.
"I really enjoyed the test; I think it's just a spectacular golf course," Mickelson told reporters in the players' parking lot after the round.
The highlight of his round came on the par-3 11th, when Mickelson sank an 8-foot birdie, his only one of the round.
But then Mickelson yanked his tee shot into the thick rough on the right side on No. 12, needed two shots to get back to the fairway and carded a double-bogey 6 to drop to 7 over.
Unless Mickelson goes really low in Friday's second round, he figures to miss the weekend in his 31st U.S. Open.