Mitchell improves by 12 shots on 2nd nine during wild U.S. Open round

The scoreboard might say an even-par round of 70 for Keith Mitchell, but the American's opening day at the U.S. Open was far from routine.

A "psycho scorecard" is a term often used to describe a round with plenty of volatility, and it's safe to say Mitchell's first round Thursday at Shinnecock Hills was one of the best examples we've ever seen.

Mitchell will now be the answer to a unique trivia question: What golfer shot an even-par 70 at the U.S. Open without shooting in the 30s on either nine?

He started his day on the 10th tee, overshooting the green by 44 yards with his approach. Four shots later, he recorded a disastrous double-bogey 6 and was immediately put in a rough spot.

Mitchell added four more bogeys and no birdies on his first nine holes, posting a 41 to sit near the bottom of the leaderboard.

But whatever he did on his walk to the first tee should be studied by golfers everywhere, as he scored birdies on Nos. 1, 3, and 4 before providing the highlight of the round with the tournament's first eagle on No. 5.

The eagle on the par-5 marked his fifth straight three to start the challenging set of holes and brought him back to 1-over for the tournament. However, Mitchell wasn't satisfied being on the wrong side of par, as he came to the ninth with a chance to shoot 29 on his closing stretch and finish at even.

Mitchell stuffed his approach to eight feet on the 479-yard par 4 and poured in the putt to complete the most intense roller-coaster round we've seen at the U.S. Open in a long time.

With the afternoon wave about to hit the golf course, Mitchell's even-par round was good enough to put him in a tie for seventh and just two strokes off the clubhouse lead.