2021 Valspar Championship: How Phil Mickelson Went 6-3-6-3

Phil Mickelson has been known to have some wild periods of golf in his rounds during his long PGA Tour career. He had one of those crazy four-hole stretches during his first round at the 2021 Valspar Championship.

Mickelson started his day playing the back nine first. He bogeyed the 10th hole but bounced back with a birdie on the 11th. He would par the 12th to stay at even par.

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On the 13th hole, he suffered his second bogey of the day. But again, he bounced right back, this time with a birdie on the par-5 14th. He was back to even par through five holes.

Mickelson would par 15, 16 and 17 to stay at even. He bogeyed the 18th hole to finish his first nine at 1-over par.

He started his second nine with a birdie at the first hole, getting back to even par. He would par the second hole to stay at that figure.

Then the adventurous four-hole stretch would start for Lefty.

At the par-4 third hole, Mickelson drove it in the fairway and was about 200 yards from the green. His second shot came up short of the green. His chip got him on the surface but he was more than 20 feet from the cup. His putt for par missed and went about six feet past the hole. He missed the six-footer for bogey and took a double-bogey six.

On the par-3 fourth hole, Mickelson hit his tee shot on the green and had about 15 feet for birdie. He missed that putt but tapped in for a par three.

Then on the par-4 fifth hole, Lefty hit his drive way left. He had more than 300 yards to the green for his second, which he was able to advance about 160 yards, leaving him 200 yards to the green for his third.

His third shot went into a greenside bunker. His fourth shot got him onto the green, about 15 feet away. His par putt missed and he carded a bogey six.

Then on the par-4 sixth hole, Mickelson drove it in the fairway, about 100 yards from the green. His second shot was outstanding, leaving him about three feet for birdie. He rolled in the putt for a birdie three.

For Mickelson, it was a stretch that went 6-3-6-3. Typical Phil.

Mickelson would shoot a 2-over par 73 on the day, leaving him nine shots behind early leader Keegan Bradley.