Mickelson makes late charge to shoot 67 in Masters first round

Phil Mickelson walked off the No. 11 green Thursday afternoon having put up back-to-back bogeys.

The three-time Masters champion couldn’t have been happier.

“So it would look like after bogeying 10 and 11 that it would kill some momentum,” Mickelson said. “It was the other way around.”

By the end of the day, the 48-year-old Mickelson drew a standing ovation from the patrons after his final putt on No. 18, the last of five birdies over the final seven holes for a 5-under-par 67. Mickelson's 53rd career round under par in his 27th Masters Tournament left him in third place, a stroke behind co-leaders Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka.

PHOTOS: Phil's First Round

The reason Mickelson was all smiles headed to the 12th tee? He didn't make double bogeys. 

“Those were two great bogeys,” Mickelson said. “After going in the water on (No.) 11 and hitting the next shot so close and have an easy bogey. And then to make a 6-footer on 10 after a terrible drive, those were momentum maintainers, if you will, that kept me in it. Then when I got to holes I could birdie, I took advantage of it.”

Mickelson’s bogey at No. 11 dropped him to even par in an afternoon where birdies were being made all around Augusta National.

Things changed quicker than a hiccup as he sent the crowd at No. 12 into a frenzy, flying just 12 feet past the hole, then dunked the dicey downhiller for birdie.

PHOTOS: The First Round at Augusta

Mickelson would complete his back-nine charge with birdies at Nos. 13, 15, 16 and 18. He put the icing on his round by sticking a wedge within 7 feet from 140 yards out.

“I was just hoping to shoot in the 60s,” Mickelson said of his opening round. “Yeah, I thought there were some 66s out there. Look, the greens are softer than they have ever been. They aren’t as fast as they normally are, so today was the day to take advantage of.”

Mickelson heard chants of "Phil! Phil! Phil!" as he walked from the No. 18 green to go sign his scorecard.

“I love this place,” Mickelson said. “That was a lot of fun. It’s fun to finish off the round. To make a good par save on 17 and birdie the last, it’s fun to finish a good round off rather than having a weak one here and there. It was a good day.”

Even with back-to-back bogeys.