That meant Mickelson needed a birdie on the 18th, and the golf gods couldn't help but play one last cruel prank on Lefty at a U.S. Open. He piped his drive and hit a beautiful second shot to 14 feet, hole high, setting up the birdie look he needed to make the weekend.

Well inside the cut line with four holes to play in his second round, a pair of late double bogeys left Lefty's 34th US Open done after 36 holes.

Whatever Phil Mickelson did, in this life or a past one, to offend the USGA, the U.S. Open and the gods who control America’s tournament … they have most certainly exacted their revenge. And they’ve sent him into U.