- Phil Mickelson has made a strong start in his second tournament of the year.
- Jason Day and Rickie Fowler struggled at the Farmer’s Insurance Open.
Phil Mickelson is the in form ‘old guy’ and it’s great to see. FIGJAM even found time to admonish 17-year-old Australian golfer, Ryan Ruffels, for blabbering about a bet the players made a few months ago. Phil, who finished T3 at last week’s CareerBuilder Challenge, has seen his game come together since splitting with coach Butch Harmon.
He was one of the few players to hit the 13th in two shots, that’s an astonishing 612 yards of golf, proof that the player’s ball striking is back. Not only was it long, the 13th had a 5.15 stroke scoring average yesterday and Phil was one of just 12 players to make birdie.
The first player to hit No. 13 in two: Phil Mickelson, who just did it from 284. #QuickHits https://t.co/1FqRc0lmib
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 28, 2016
So that’s long game on point, how about mid irons?
Phil birdies No. 8 after almost making an ace. #QuickHits https://t.co/hqEMc2Wfv4
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 28, 2016
Short game? You mean Phil’s bread and butter…
Phil's wedge game. ???? pic.twitter.com/VI7t7f3Uuq
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 28, 2016
Putter? check!
27 feet, 1 inch. Pure. Phil Mickelson closes with a birdie 4 for a 3-under 69 @FarmersInsOpen. #QuickHits https://t.co/bu9BTnb6nB
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 28, 2016
Phil’s round at Torrey Pines was comparably boss compared to Day (level par) and Fowler (one over). It’s hasty to suggest Phil will compete all year, but his return to form at 46 serves as a stark reminder that quality can come from any number of golfers in 2016. See if you can see the swing issues Phil developed over the last two years. He was forced to steepen the plane at the top and play catch up on the way down; It shows that even after a 25 year career he is still prepared to address fundamental issues. Younger players can learn a lot from him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQpsxwTIx70
Here’s how they finished after the first round.