US Open: Phil Mickelson suffers nightmare first round as Adam Hadwin takes surprise lead

By Jack Bantock, CNN

Updated 0033 GMT (0833 HKT) June 17, 2022

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(CNN)Phil Mickelson faces missing the cut at the US Open after enduring a torrid first round, with Adam Hadwin impressing as the surprise early leader at The Country Club on Thursday.

Playing on his 52nd birthday, Mickelson struggled to an eight-over 78, with only seven players of the 156-man field carding a lower score. The six-time major winner must finish in the top 60 by the close of Friday's second round to avoid being cut. Though the first players teed off under clear blue skies in Brookline, Massachusetts, the build-up to 122nd edition of the major had been dominated by the storm clouds of the controversial Saudi-backed LIV Golf series.Backed by Saudi Arabia's