Phil Mickelson's opening Masters round anything but boring

It was another thrill ride through Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday with three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson.

From the moment he energized the patrons with a 46-foot birdie putt at the first hole, it was never dull as the 47-year-old made six birdies and four bogeys on his way to a 2-under-par 70 that was good for a tie for 11th, four shots behind leader Jordan Spieth.

Mickelson rushed through his post-round media availability to return to the practice area with what daylight was remaining. His threesome finished around 6:45 p.m. and return to the first tee at 10:31 a.m. on Friday.

"Fractionally off," Mickelson said about his game. "I just wasn't quite sharp. I didn't strike if the way I wanted to. My short game wasn't quite as sharp as I wanted it to be. And I didn't capitalize on some putts that I've usually been making. But what I did do well is I plotted my way around the golf course. I got in with a reasonable score."

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Mickelson picked up momentum after his last bogey, at No. 11, which put him at 1 over for the day. He righted the ship with birdies at Nos. 13 and 15 – his usual feasting ground, he's now 119-under par on those two holes combined in his Masters career – then curled his tee shot at No. 16 within 4 feet, making the putt to get to 2 under.

Mickelson missed an 18-foot birdie attempt at No. 17 and then ended the day on a sour note when an 8-foot birdie attempt didn't scare the hole.

"That was terrible," he said. "It was (uphill), left to right, couldn't be easier. That's the stuff I'm talking about."

Mickelson hit eight fairways and 12 greens, but opened with birdie at No. 1 after finding the fairway bunker, bogeyed the par-5 second hole after blowing his tee shot into the trees on the right, pitched onto the third green and made a 16-foot birdie putt, then three-putted the par-3 fourth.

Only twice, on Nos. 9-10 and 17-18, did he par two holes in a row.

He did not want to speculate on a second-round score that would get him back in the tournament.

"I'm not worried about setting a target score but I just need to play well, hit shots and capitalize on opportunities on the greens," Mickelson said. "I probably threw three or four shots away on the greens that I have been making these putts all year."

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