Stricker finishes 8th at Merion

Triple bogeys second hole

Ardmore, Pa. — Merion Golf Club was not kind to the world’s best golfers at the 2013 U.S. Open. The course was so difficult, no one finished below par.

Phil Mickelson started the day as the leader, and finished tied for second. Justin Rose roared to the top of the leaderboard after a birdy on 13, and never looked back. Rose finished at +1 and won the event by two strokes.

Steve Stricker came into the Sunday’s final round of the U.S. Open just one shot back of the lead, and aiming to become the oldest U.S. Open Champion ever. After a triple bogey on the second hole and a bogey the third, Stricker dropped out of contention early. He finished tied for eighth place at +6. 

Stricker’s second hole could have been much worse. He hit his tee shot out of bounds. Then, hitting off the fairway,  proceeded to hit it out of bounds again. Stricker dropped in a good putt for triple-bogey and carded an eight on the hole. 

Jason Day and Phil Mickelson tied for second at +3.