Phil: “If nobody hit a green, I feel like my chances are the best"

Intriguing quote from Phil Mickelson, as quoted by Sean Martin of PGATour.com covering the FedEx St. Jude Classic, that might sound weird at first reading:

“If nobody hit a green, I feel like my chances are the best,” he said. “I’m excited about the prospect of a U.S. Open that has (the) short game as such an important element.”

I think this was the nicest way he could say that Pinehurst is all about scrambling, and I would agree.

If there is a U.S. Open course where players will miss a lot of greens, it's Pinehurst. A few of the pinched landing areas may force some longer irons in, while the sandy waste will probably result in a few more greens hit and a lot more recovery shots missing.

Which is why I love scramblers this week, if there is such a thing anymore. Something to factor in for your fantasy picks and pools. Not that I condone gambling of any kind.

Golf Addiction Cited As Motive In $9,200 Pro Shop Burglary

And now for a little News Of The Weird on the U.S. Open's eve.

From Michael Harthone of KOMO News, reporting on the arrest of a Kirkland, Washington 26-year-old with no prior record who broke into Gold Mountain Golf Course last month.

In addition to some of the stolen equipment, the suspect's apartment included golf paraphernalia, photos of himself playing golf and a hat reading, "Born to Golf, Forced to Work," according to police. Detectives noted the suspect did not appear to be employed and had played at Gold Mountain at least eight times in the past year.

“Burglaries are often the result of addictions – drugs, alcohol or gambling,” Bremerton Police Chief Steve Strachan said in a press release. “I think this is the first one we have seen that looks like a golf addiction.”