CareerBuilder Challenge Power Rankings: Top ten at PGA West

LA QUINTA, CA - JANUARY 22: The group of Adam Hadwin of Canada, Dominic Bozzelli and Hudson Swafford prepare to putt on the fifth green during the final round of the CareerBuilder Challenge in partnership with The Clinton Foundation at the TPC Stadium Course at PGA West on January 22, 2017 in La Quinta, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

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LA QUINTA, CA – JANUARY 22: Phil Mickelson plays his shot from the sixth tee during the final round of the CareerBuilder Challenge in partnership with The Clinton Foundation at the TPC Stadium Course at PGA West on January 22, 2017 in La Quinta, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) /

Phil Mickelson missed the cut in his first two appearances at the CareerBuilder Challenge as a youngster. He’s since figured things out here pretty well.

Since 2000, Lefty is 12-for-12 in cuts made at this event with wins in 2002 and 2004. Last year, Mickelson tied for 21st and was in the thick of things after opening rounds of 68 and 66.

This will be the 47-year-old’s first start since the WGC-HSBC Champions. Rust could be a factor, but the CareerBuilder has been Phil’s first start of each of the last three calendars; he’s been in the top 25 every time.

Mickelson also closed the 2017 calendar on a nice run of golf with finishes of T6, T20, T3 and T15. Three of the four tournaments were either a World Golf Championship or FedEx Cup Playoff event.

If you’re in any sort of competition that rewards birdies and eagles, Phil’s your man for this 54-hole cut event. He was fourth in birdies and ninth in eagles last season on Tour.

Mickelson will be even more of a crowd favorite than normal in his home state this week as the gallery urges him on to his potential first win since the Open Championship in 2013.

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