Different rounds, different worlds for Phil Mickelson, Rafael Cabrera-Bello

From Pebble Beach — 

The first round of the U.S. Open golf tournament can be a lot like a first date. Get acquainted with the surroundings, downplay expectations and make all moves carefully.

After Thursday’s opening round, two players who represent a big contrast in star quality would agree with that. One is recognizable by one name, the other unrecognizable, even with three names.

Meet Phil Mickelson, a.k.a. Phil. He is No. 2 in the world, attracts a crowd wherever he goes and spent the early hours of Thursday afternoon rationalizing his four-over-par 75 into a decent day at the office.

Mickelson, who has won three tour events at this Pebble Beach course and was expected to do well because of that familiarity, missed six putts of less than 10 feet and hit the ball into the ocean twice.

“If I shoot under par tomorrow,” Mickelson said, “I’ll be right back in it. On this course, an under-par score is not going to win it.”

Also, meet Rafael Cabrera-Bello of Spain, a household name in his own household, who had four birdies and three bogeys, and was among the best finishers of the day with his one-under 70.

“I looked up at the leaderboard near the end and laughed,” the 26-year-old Cabrera-Bello said. “I thought, ‘What’s my name doing there?’ ”

Asked what he expected for Friday, he laughed again and said, “Absolutely nothing.”

Golf allows for these moments, but as quickly as it gives, it takes away. Expect to hear Mickelson’s name plenty the rest of this weekend. He hit the ball well, but putted like a blacksmith. The word he used was “horrific.” But he didn’t win four majors — including three Masters — by folding after a bad opening round.

“It was very frustrating,” he said, “to miss all those opportunities.”

Mickelson said the ball was “jumping left, jumping right,” off his putter. He said he thought he figured out the flaw on the putting green afterward.

Cabrera-Bello was just happy to have a putter.

He was scheduled to fly from Spain to San Francisco on Saturday, via Philadelphia. But when he got to Madrid, he had a visa problem and couldn’t fly until it was fixed the next day. Mickelson would have just bought an airplane and continued on. Cabrera-Bello has won $133,279 on the European Tour this year, a decent year for him, so his airplane-purchasing power is limited.

Cabrera-Bello made it to Philadelphia and connected on to San Francisco on Sunday. His next adventure was at the baggage carousel, as the luggage from his flight arrived. No golf clubs.

“You get kind of a bad feeling,” he said, “when everybody else on your flight is gone and the last bag has come through.”

He was told his clubs were still in Philadelphia, and so, pending their arrival later in the day, the young Spaniard borrowed a wedge, walked the course he had never seen before and prepared for his first pro tournament in the United States like some kid sneaking onto the course. Unlike many of his competitors, who were grinding through practices rounds, Cabrera-Bello was fine with it.

“This place is beautiful,” he said. “It is hard to describe.”

His clubs arrived — thank you, US Airways. He got in a couple of practice rounds, and then got to tee off on the 10th tee, in the first group Thursday, at 7 a.m., a pairing usually reserved for those with minimal star power. Even at a U.S. Open, crowds don’t show at 7 a.m., unless the group includes a Mickelson or Woods.

“There were a couple of people out there,” Cabrera-Bello said, “but I’m pretty sure they weren’t there to watch me.”

Friday, he will be playing Pebble Beach from a different angle. He will start on No. 1, near the Lodge and famous putting green surrounded by expensive shops and restaurants. And he will start at 12:30 p.m., when crowds will be large and buzzing and when the afternoon winds tend to dry out the greens and make them the speed of a gym floor.

Cabrera-Bello got here by going four under par, with one eagle, in the last seven holes of a European qualifier. He is thrilled to be here, stunned to be on the leaderboard.

Mickelson is a different story. At least twice, he defied the rules of first dates/first rounds caution. On No. 17, the famous par three directly toward the Pacific, he flew a five-iron. “It one-hopped into the ocean,” he said.

On No. 18, the par-five finisher that wraps around the bay and hides the flag behind a giant tree, he had 252 yards left after his drive and tried to crank a shot left to right around the tree. It started left, stayed left, hit a rock and caromed about 100 yards into the ocean. Bogey six.

Friday’s second round warrants moves. Mickelson will make some. Cabrera-Bello will, as he said, “Attempt to remain calm and focused.”

Expect Phil to get the girl before Cabrera-Bello. It’s like that in life, and in golf.

bill.dwyre@latimes.com