7:25 PM ET

Phil Mickelson said that he prefers the 54-hole events of the new golf series.

The U.S. Open is a 36-hole event.

The first round of the U.S. Open at The Country Club outside Boston didn't go as planned for Phil Mickelson. He walked off the golf course after he carded a 8-over 78.

The golfer told reporters in the players' parking lot that he enjoyed the test. I had a hard time putting the putter in the first few holes.

While playing for the first time in the U.S. since missing the cut at the Farmers Insurance Open in late January, Phil Mickelson had three bogeys and a double bogey in the first five holes.

The highlight of his round was on the par 3 11th when he sank an 8-footer. He needed two shots to get back to the fairway after his tee shot on the 12th went into the rough.

He will miss the weekend in his 31st U.S. Open unless he goes really low on Friday. He is attempting to become the sixth man in Masters history to complete a career grand slam. At the U.S. Open, he's been runner-up six times.

Lefty was playing in the U.S. Open after being suspended from the tour. The 17 tour players who competed in the London event had no conflicting event releases.

The Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund is said to have given $200 million to LIV Golf. The 150th Open Championship, which is scheduled for July 14 to 17 at St. Andrew's in Scotland, is one of the seven LIV Golf events Lefty will play this season.

Lefty, who has won 45 times on the PGA Tour, wants to keep his Tour lifetime membership.