TORREY PINES, Calif. — Phil Mickelson squandered a chance to make an early move in the first round yesterday at the Farmers Insurance Open, struggling to an even-par 72 on the North Course, the easier of the two used for the tournament.
Mickelson, who since Sunday has been embroiled in a controversy about comments he made about rising California tax rates — comments he apologized for on Wednesday for making public — said he felt “very lethargic off the first tee.’’
“I haven’t been as mentally focused starting out,’’ he said. “Hopefully, I’ll be able to turn that around [today] and start a little bit more effectively in the future.’’
Mickelson, who played with defending champion and first-round co-leader Brandt Snedeker, said watching Snedeker’s round “shows you what you need to do.’’
“I didn’t play the best. I hit it poorly. I putted poorly,’’ Mickelson said. “I’ll see if I can get it going [today]. I’ve got to shoot something in the 60s, and if I can get a couple of putts to go. I’ve got to get that putter going.’’
Mickelson said he believes he still can win the tournament despite his poor round on the North Course.
“Sure. It’s going to take some exceptional golf over on the South,” he said. “There are some low scores out there if you play the course right and effectively.’’
* One of the best stories of the tournament so far is Adam Hadwin, who was a Monday qualifier and shot a 6-under 66 in the first round yesterday.
Hadwin, from British Columbia, said, “To go out and shoot a bogey-free round to start the week, I couldn’t have asked for anything more.’’
* Tag Ridings carded a hole-in-one on the par-3 third hole of the South Course en route to a 5-under-par 67 to stand two shots out of the lead.
“I had a nice leader. [Steve] Marino hit one in there about a foot right in front of me and showed me the line,’’ Ridings joked of his playing partner.
* Rickie Fowler, who was in Tiger Woods’ group and spoke on Wednesday about how much he enjoys playing with Woods, struggled, shooting a 5-over 77. The last time Fowler was paired with Woods, at the Memorial last year, he shot 84.
* Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa recently bought a home in Carlsbad, Calif., about 30 minutes north of Torrey Pines. He shot a 4-under 68 on the North Course.