Phil Mickelson fires 60 to lead Waste Management Phoenix Open on day one
Phil Mickelson was on fire on day one of the Waste Management Phoenix Open, as he fired a scintillating 11-under par 60, to take a four-stroke lead over a pack of five players, on Thursday, January 31, 2013.
The tournament is being staged at the TPC Scottsdale, featuring a strong line-up, vying for a share of US$ 6.2 million, with US$ 1,098,000 on offer for the winner.
Ryan Palmer, Brandt Snedeker, Padraig Harrington, Jeff Maggert and Ted Potter, Jr. were the players who shared the second spot on the leaderboard, at a seven-under par 64.
Mickelson, who is also known as ‘Lefty’, started his campaign on the back nine of the course and stunned his opponents early in the round with an amazing display of the game.
He birdied each of the first four holes that he played, prior to recording pars on the next two holes. Thereafter, he gained another three shots, by draining birdie putts on the 16th, 17th and the 18th hole, to reach the turn in seven-under.
The back nine of the course also witnessed him remain consistent, as he turned in 31, to finish the round on a high note. At the end of the day, he found himself way ahead of his rivals present in the field.
Standing on the ninth green, his 18th, he had a chance to turn in 59, for the first time in his career. He hit the ball from 25 feet to the hole and started walking with his putter in hand.
“Six feet to go, it was in the centre,” Mickelson said. “Three feet to go, it was in the centre. A foot to go, it was in the centre”.
However, the ball lipped out and the Lefty had to settle for 60. It was the second time that Mickelson fired a 60 in a single round.
“It was a fun day, and I’m excited to shoot 60,” Mickelson said. “But to see that last putt lip out the way it did and not go in, it’s crushing because you don’t get that chance very often to shoot 59”.
Tags: