Mike's Blog-The U.S Open Round 1

 Today was a long day on the golf course but one that I'm obviously pleased about. I've been sensing my game come around lately and it was nice to have a day when it finally came together.
After waiting around on Thursday, it was nice to come out and play well. A 63 really wasn't on my mind. I didn't think too much about it. It was just one of those days where I was so focused on what I was doing. I had great feel and I just wanted to let it ride. I was really dialed in with all my irons and I didn't really give a lot of thought to my score at all - I was in a good place and I just tried to stay there.
Leading after the first round is nice, but it really doesn't mean a whole lot in the big scheme of things. It's a great feeling but it's such a long week.  Even when I made that double out there, I told myself that something like this is bound to happen - it's the U.S. Open and things like that happen and they'll probably happen again before the week is over. You just have to bounce back from that and fortunately today I was able to do that with birdies on my last two holes.
With all the rain, the course is playing longer but I don't think that means a medium-length hitter can't compete. In 2003, the year I won the Masters, Augusta played really long and everybody talked about the long players were going to have a big advantage. But all of us medium-length hitters feel we can compete. I hit some longer irons and hybrid clubs into the greens, but they're soft enough to hold. If it was firm conditions and we were hitting those clubs we'd be at a disadvantage. But it's not as much of a disadvantage this week.
On that note, I have to really pay credit to the amazing the job the staff did to get this course in playable condition. I was watching on television yesterday and I didn't think there was any way we'd be playing today as early as we did. The greens staff really did something special out there, battling that nasty weather.
Speaking of weather, our side of the draw certainly got an advantage but that's what happens some times. We got to play in some pretty nice conditions while the other side really had to battle with the rain yesterday. Sometimes that can be huge but there's no way you can know if you're going to be on the good side or the bad side of it.  I think it all eventually evens out. You just take what you're given.
It's funny -- I don't really think of myself as a bad weather player but I have had success in less than ideal conditions over the years. I seem to always play well at Pebble Beach and a few other places. Maybe I can just putt the bumpy greens well or something. I don't make any adjustments to my game, don't change things at all. The only change in my bag was to take out my three-iron and put in a TaylorMade Rescue club which I used well today. I hit it on 15 and made a birdie, hit it on 17 and almost made another birdie, and then hit it again on the third hole and made a birdie - it was good to me today.
When we headed out for the second round, I still felt good. I made a couple of bogeys but I still felt as if I was playing well and hitting the shots I wanted. I know there's a long way to go in this tournament, a lot of shots left to be played. The weather forecast for Saturday isn't good so that's another element to deal with. But I'm certainly pleased with the way things have started out.

As always, thanks for your support.
Mike