Posted April 9, 2015, 6:59 pm
BY

Staff Writer

Phil Mickelson makes better start

Phil Mickelson is close to making a missed cut at Augusta just a one-year blip. If anything, his mind is more focused on contending.

One year after missing a Masters Tournament cut for the first time since 1997 by going 76-73, the three-time green jacket winner carded 2-under 70, putting him in solid shape to make a move toward contention.

“It was a good way to start the tournament,” Mickelson said. “I feel good with the way the game is, and if I could just over the course of the next three days get hot with the putter a time or two, I should be able to make a run.”

Mickelson boosted his round with an eagle on the par-5 No. 8, with his second shot landing 2 feet from the hole. It was just the third time he’s eagled the hole, and the first time since 1995.

“I was just trying to get it past pin high because short of pin high you don’t have much of an angle to get to that back right pin. That pin has always given me problems. I just took a little extra club and hit a high cut. I can’t believe it ended up where it did,” Mickelson said.

The eagle was one part of a front nine that also included two birdies and two bogeys. After he made the turn, Mickelson carded mostly pars, though he did birdie No. 15 to get to 3-under before a bogey on the 17th brought him back.

It was Mickelson’s best first round since a 2-under performance in 2011.

“I had a couple of good runs (Thursday) with birdies,” he said. “I need to get hotter with the putter the next few days, but it was a good start.”

Phil Mickelson

SLIDESHOW: First Round Action

SLIDESHOW: Phil Mickelson

Round 1
Hole	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Out	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	In	T
Par	4	5	4	3	4	3	4	5	4	36	4	4	3	5	4	5	3	4	4	36	72
Rnd	4	4	3	3	4	4	5	3	4	34	4	4	3	5	4	4	3	5	4	36	70
Tot.	0	-1	-2	-2	-2	-1	0	-2	-2	-2	-2	-2	-2	-2	-2	-3	-3	-2	-2	-2	-2

Masters Record

Year	Place	Score	Round				Money
Year	Place	Score	1	2	3	4	Money
2014	52	+5	76	73			$ 10,000
2013	54	+9	71	76	77	73	$ 18,320
2012	3	-8	74	68	66	72	$ 384,000
2011	27	-1	70	72	71	74	$ 54,400
2010	1	-16	67	71	67	67	$ 1,350,000
2009	5	-9	73	68	71	67	$ 300,000
2008	5	-2	71	68	75	72	$ 273,750
2007	24	+11	76	73	73	77	$ 63,800
2006	1	-7	70	72	70	69	$ 1,260,000
2005	10	-3	70	72	69	74	$ 189,000
2004	1	-9	72	69	69	69	$ 1,170,000
2003	3	-5	73	70	72	68	$ 408,000
2002	3	-8	69	72	68	71	$ 380,800
2001	3	-13	67	69	69	70	$ 380,800
2000	7	-2	71	68	76	71	$ 143,367
1999	6	-3	74	69	71	71	$ 125,200
1998	12	-2	74	69	69	74	$ 64,800
1997	47	+6	76	74			$ 5,000
1996	3	-6	65	73	72	72	$ 170,000
1995	7	-8	66	71	70	73	$ 70,950
1993	34	+3	72	71	75	73	$ 8,975
1991	47	+2	69	73	74	74	$ 0

Phil Mickelson makes better start

Masters Record

From AugustaChronicle.com »

Photos

Phil Mickelson makes better start

Masters Record

From AugustaChronicle.com »

Photos

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