Phil phlopped
While Phil’s 2019 started off promisingly with a win at Pebble Beach, Lefty has yet to post a finish better than T48 in his last 10 starts. Thursday’s round unfortunately didn’t help matters, when he made a quadruple-bogey nine on his fifth hole.
Mickelson fought back admirably, with a birdie on No. 6, but another bogey followed on No. 7, and he made the turn at four over par.
A back nine of one under par resulted in a round of three-over-par 75.
Though Mickelson is certainly not out of it (hey, you never know in golf), he’ll likely need to rally mightily on Friday in order to make the cut.
How did the other big names play?
Francesco Molinari is one shot back after an opening six-under-par 66.
Cameron Champ is two shots back after firing a 67, and Bryson DeChambeau is three shots back after a 68.
Justin Thomas played his final seven holes in four under par to finish at one under on the day, six shots back, while John Daly struggled to a round of four-over-par 76.
