2021 PGA Championship: Phil Mickelson Finds Magic on Thursday

Phil Mickelson was not considered as a realistic contender for the 2021 PGA Championship. But after a late rally on Thursday, Lefty is right in the mix through the first round.

Mickelson started his round with a bogey on the par-4 first hole. He carded a par on the par-5 second hole before a birdie on the par-4 third hole got him back to even par.

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However, Mickelson could not continue the momentum. He bogeyed the fourth hole. Then the fifth. Then the sixth. Suddenly, he was 3-over par and his day appeared to be headed in completely the wrong direction.

Lefty got one back on the par-5 seventh hole. His birdie got him back to 2-over par on his round. He closed his first nine with two pars to shoot a 38.

But on the back nine, Mickelson got hot.

On the 10th hole, he drove his ball into a waste bunker, about 100 yards from the green. He stuck his second shot within five feet, then made the putt for birdie. He was back to 1-over par.

Mickelson took advantage of the par-5 11th hole. It started with a booming, 363-yard drive into the fairway. His second shot got him on the green. His eagle putt missed but he made his birdie to get back to even par on his round.

Lefty would make pars on the 12th, 13th and 14th holes to stay at even par. Then on the 15th hole, Mickelson again drove it in the fairway and again stuck his approach shot. He made the birdie to get into red figures for the first time all day.

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But he wasn’t done. On the par-5 16th hole, Mickelson needed three shots to get on the green, but he made another birdie, going to 2-under on his round and into the Top 10 in the event.

Mickelson would finish at that number and finds himself in a tie for eighth through one round. While he will need to come back out and play well again tomorrow, it was fun to see Mickelson return to his old form in a major championship on Thursday.

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