How Keith Mitchell turned a 41-29 into the craziest round in U.S. Open history

At the end of it all, Keith Mitchell looked quite disheveled.

Yes, in some ways, that was more down to the conditions at a windy, nasty Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on Thursday to begin the 2026 U.S. Open. But it was also because Mitchell had just shot the craziest even-par round in the history of the PGA Tour.

Mitchell ended up with a 70 on a course that is a par-70.

There's never been an even-par that looked like this.

Mitchell went out with a 6-over 41 on the back nine, where he began his round.

He double-bogeyed with a 6 on the par-4 10th. Then he bogeyed the par-3 11th.

Mitchell added bogeys on the par-4 13th and par-4 14th, and another bogey on the par-5 16th.

When he made the turn to the front, though, everything changed.

Mitchell shot a 6-under 29 on the front.

Birdie on the par-4 1st. Birdies on both Nos. 3 and 4, which were both par-4s.

He eagled the par-5 5th.

And Mitchell closed out his round with one more birdie, on the par-4 9th.

He had five squares, including a double square, in his first nine holes.

He had five circled holes, included a double circle, in the back half of his round.

Some of that is likely down to the conditions.

Some of that is likely down to luck.

And some of that certainly must be credited to Mitchell for not moping and instead figuring something out to improve his day.

On a course that's going to be very hard to score on, going 6-under on nine holes is remarkable. He's put himself right back in the hunt heading into the second round.

You may never see another 41-29 again.

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