PINEHURST, N.C. -- After the first round of the U.S. Open, Phil Mickelson repeated that he's done nothing wrong Thursday regarding an insider trading investigation.
He was asked about a New York Times story that reported Mickelson's role in the FBI investigation was said to be overstated.
The Times reported that Mickelson did not trade in shares of Clorox as investor Carl Icahn was trying to take over the company in 2011, according to four people briefed on the matter.
However, Mickelson still faces an investigation over separate trades for Dean Foods just before the stock rose.
Mickelson, a six-time runner-up at the U.S. Open, said he couldn't say anything about the Times report and the investigation.
"But I'll continue to say, I haven't done anything wrong," he said. "I'm willing to help out, love to help out any way on the investigation. So like I said before, with an investigation going on, I'm not going to comment any further on it. But I'll continue to say that I've done absolutely nothing wrong.
" … I really don't want to say much about it. I do have a lot to say and I will say it at the right time. I've got a lot to say, I just can't say it right now."
Under cloud cover in the morning, Mickelson started his round with a birdie from close range on the 10th hole and added another birdie from 3 feet on the 14th to move to 2 under. A poor chip, however, led to a bogey on the next hole and after making birdie on the par-5 5th hole, Mickelson bogeyed two of the final four holes to shoot even-par 70.
While he was disappointed in how the round ended, he was satisfied with the 70 and ecstatic about his driver.
Mickelson didn't miss a fairway when he used his driver on nine occasions.
THURSDAY AT THE U.S. OPEN PHOTO GALLERY:
Source : http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/golf/2014/06/12/phil-mickelson-insider-trading-us-open-pinehurst/10378909/
