e the Union erase the gap and go three points clear of the Canadian

PINEHURST, N.C. -- Even in the best of times, Phil Mickelson has ample reason to expect the worst at the U.S. Open. More than two decades of play in the major known as the toughest test in golf has produced everything from agony to aggravation, mostly torment, never triumph. And all Mickelson has to show from the U.S. Open are silver medals -- a record six of them -- for finishing second. "He could have won six, and he hasnt won one," Ernie Els said. "I believe hes going to win one. Hes still young enough. His game is still good enough." The U.S. Open took on even greater importance to the 43-year-old Mickelson last summer when he won the British Open at Muirfield, leaving him one major away -- the U.S. Open, of course -- from joining five other greats who have the career Grand Slam. For all his heartache in golfs toughest test, his optimism hasnt wavered. Never mind that he has been linked to an insider trading investigation involving activist investor Carl Icahn and Las Vegas gambler Billy Walters, in which FBI agents paid him a visit after his first round at the Memorial. Or that Mickelson hasnt won this year, his worst start to a season since 2003. Mickelson not only believes hes going to win the U.S. Open, he thinks hes going to win more than one. "Some people view it as though, Hes come close and hes never done it. I see it as though Ive finished second six times in this event," Mickelson said. "I played some of my best golf in this event, and I should have an opportunity -- and more than one opportunity -- to close one out here in the future." The U.S. Open returning to Pinehurst No. 2 only adds to the intrigue. Thats where Mickelson picked up his first silver medal in 1999. He had a one-shot lead with three holes to play and had a 6-foot par putt on the 16th hole, while Payne Stewart was 25 feet away from par. Stewart made his putt, Mickelson missed and they were tied. Stewart took the lead with a short birdie on the 17th, then famously won the U.S. Open with a 15-foot par putt on the final hole. No worries. Mickelson surely would get another chance, and he did. He just doesnt have the trophy. Five years later, he was tied for the lead on the 17th hole at Shinnecock Hills when he hit into a bunker, blasted out to 5 feet and three-putted for double bogey. "It was like being in a morgue walking up the 18th," said Fred Funk, who was paired with him that day. The most crushing blow was at Winged Foot in 2006. Mickelson had a one-shot lead on the 18th hole. His tee shot clanged off a corporate tent. The bigger mistake was going for the green with a 3-iron and hitting a tree. His third shot plugged in the bunker. His fourth shot raced across the green. He made double bogey and lost my one. There was Mickelson, crouched on the green, hands cupped over his head. "I am such an idiot," he said. "Phil handled the whole thing like a true gentleman," said Kenneth Ferrie, who played with him in the final pairing. "He had nice words to say to me coming off 18 and was amazingly courteous and polite to the volunteers and officials considering what had just happened." And yet he keeps coming back for more. Sam Snead, who holds the PGA Tour record with 82 career wins, never won a U.S. Open. Lee Trevino never won the Masters. Arnold Palmer and Tom Watson never won the PGA Championship. Even so, none of those greats ever had as many chances to win the missing major as Mickelson. Hunter Mahan paid him the ultimate respect at Bethpage Black in 2009. Mickelson was tied for the lead with four holes to play until missing short par putts on the 15th and 17th holes. Another U.S. Open bid over, Mickelson was walking up to the 18th green when Mahan -- who had just as good of a chance to win that day -- began applauding, and thousands joined him. Mahan has played with Mickelson twice on Sunday when Lefty was the runner-up. The other occasion was last year at Merion. Mickelson twice made bogey with a wedge in his hand on the back nine. His last hope was to chip in from 40 yards to force a playoff with Justin Rose. He missed. "I looked at him and said, Good try, Phil. You can only do what you can do," Mahan said. "At some point, youve got to get a bounce or two and make a putt. I think he wants to win that tournament more than anything." The thought of Mickelson at Pinehurst stirs emotions. Stewart died in a freak plane crash four months after he won that U.S. Open. Mickelson carried a pager in his golf bag that week and pledged to withdraw if his wife went into labour. His first child, Amanda, was born the next day. Fifteen years later, the pressure is only greater. "Maybe it is his strength of mind, or his short game, that has enabled him to put himself in contention as so many times," Ferrie said. "As each year has gone on and he has won other majors, the focus has become more and more about the U.S. Open. As a player, when you want something so much, its even more difficult to achieve. Yet he keeps giving himself a chance." Justice Hill Womens Jersey . According to a report from ESPN, Lynch wants a new contract from the Seahawks, and will likely skip all off-season workouts until he can renegotiate his deal with the Seahawks. Justin Tucker Youth Jersey . Dragic was a game-time decision because of a sore right ankle that had kept him out of Wednesdays loss at Utah, but played all but the last 10 seconds of the second half in the first 40-point game for a Phoenix player since Amare Stoudemires 44 on March 19, 2010. http://www.ravensrookiestore.com/Ravens-Trace-Mcsorley-Jersey/ . Didnt need any help this time. Wood beat Cincinnati for the first time in his career, repeatedly pitching out of threats for seven innings, and Chicago stalled the Reds week-long surge with a 2-0 victory Monday night. Baltimore Ravens Jerseys . -- Isaiah Pead took a stutter step forward, then raced to the left sideline and travelled 60 yards up the field before finally getting tripped up by a leg tackle. Joe Flacco Youth Jersey . After two months of mediocrity, perhaps the Washington Nationals have turned the page. Strasburg struck out 11 in seven innings Wednesday night and the Nationals kept the Philadelphia Phillies bats quiet yet again in an 8-4, rain-interrupted win.Chester, PA (SportsNetwork.com) - The Philadelphia Union and Toronto FC will meet for the first time in four days when the two sides face one another at PPL Park on Wednesday. Catch all the action on TSN2 and TSN 1050 at 7pm et. The two clubs are heading in opposite directions as the Union have suffered just one loss in their last seven league outings while Toronto is winless in its last three.The poor run of form has cost Ryan Nelsen his job as Toronto parted ways with the head coach on Sunday.Expectations for Nelsen were sky-high given the sizable investment made in the squad during the offseason, but Toronto has only managed a .500 record (9-9-6) to this point in the campaign.Greg Vanney was named Torontos new coach, and the former MLS veteran is eager to put his stamp on the club.Im very honored to be named head coach of Toronto FC and I am looking forward to working with an exceptional group of players, Vanney said. This is a time for all of us to come together and achieve our goal of making the playoffs for the first time in club history. Were in a good position in the standings. I know the players in our room believe in each other and we are looking forward to a positive response on Wednesday.The Union, who are coming off of a bye week, will be hoping to capitalize on Torontos transitionnal period.dddddddddddd.Philadelphia trails Toronto in the table by three points, meaning that maximum return from its home-and-home series with the Reds would see the Union erase the gap and go three points clear of the Canadian club.Its huge, Union interim manager Jim Curtin told the clubs official website. The fortunate thing is they (played last) Saturday against New England, so you hope they beat each other up. You dont know how Torontos going to handle it all. Are they going to bank on being at home? Take it and put everything into the home game and rest a few guys here and be ready there. Either way, well be prepared for them. We have the rest and advantage and we have the home-field advantage in the Wednesday game.We can dictate things. Thats a playoff type game with them. Were right around the same spot and having it in our home field, well have to get a win. Then you can go to their place and play with house money. It starts with our home match and we know we have to take care of business at home.The two clubs have yet to meet this season, though Philadelphia has held the edge in head-to-head battles in recent years. The Union are 2-0-3 against Toronto in the last five meetings between the two sides, most recently edging the Reds in a 1-0 victory on Oct. 5, 2013. ' ' '