LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Phil Mickelson, who’s still searching for his first top-10 finish this season but entered this week believing his game was on the verge of a big breakthrough, began his PGA Championship opening round in alarming fashion Thursday.
Starting on the 10th hole, Mickelson hit his drive so far left he sailed over a fence and nearly into a huge corporate tent (does that sound familiar, Winged Foot, circa 2006?). He got a free drop because the fence is a temporary obstruction and ended up saving par, but Mickelson struggled from there, playing his first eight holes in 2-over par.
“I was saying that I felt so good heading in this tournament, I had a great final round last week Sunday, but I also had three great practice days and my game felt really sharp,’’ said Mickelson, who bounced back to shoot a 2-under 69. “I stood on the first tee for the first time this year like I was ready to play, ready to compete, and try to win a championship [and] I hit the ugliest shot off the first hole. I mean, it was so far left I don’t even know what to say. I was lucky it wasn’t out of bounds. Horrific.’’
After Mickelson caused a lengthy delay while getting fans moved so he could hit and sorted out what he was going to do with the shot, his playing partners, Tiger Woods and Padraig Harrington, waited for several minutes in the fairway.
When Mickelson emerged from the masses following his shot, he made a beeline to Woods and his caddie, Joe LaCava, and apologized for holding up play so long.
Mickelson was left with his next tee shot, on No. 11, and bogeyed.
“I knew my game was still there,’’ he said. “I wasn’t worried. I had to make some confident swings. I hit some good solid shots, played the last 10 holes well in 4-‑under. I just need to get on the first tee with more confidence.
“Going into [Friday], I expect to play with a little bit more assertiveness and confidence from the first hole on, from the first swing on and not have that tentative uncommitted golf swing that I made the first swing of the day and many throughout the first eight holes. If that it was case, I believe I have some low rounds in me.’’
Rob Corcoran, the head pro at Poxabogue, the tiny nine-hole public course in the Hamptons, had a thrilling moment early in the opening round of his first career major championship when he holed out for birdie from 20 yards in the fairway. That got him to 1-over par for the round. He finished with a 5-over-par 76.
Frank Esposito Jr., the head pro at Brooklake Country Club in Florham Park, N.J., watched his dream start turn ugly.
Esposito, starting his opening round on the back nine, birdied two of his first three holes to get to 1-under par and show up on the early leaderboard.
Esposito’s round went awry from there, though, as he took a 9 on his fourth hole, the par-4 13th, and finished with a 12-over-par 83, leaving himself no realistic chance of making the cut in his third major of the year. The 51-year-old
Esposito played in the U.S. Senior Open and the Senior PGA Championship.
Oradell, N.J.’s Jim McGovern, the head pro at White Beeches Country Club in Haworth, N.J., shot 83.
Rickie Fowler, the only player in the world to finish in the top 5 in three previous majors, shot a 2-under 69. Fowler, who finished runner-up in the U.S. Open and British Open and tied for fifth in the Masters, is seeking to become the first player to finish in the top 10 of all four majors since Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh in 2005.
Colin Montgomerie, who’s playing his golf on the Champions Tour, where he’s won two majors this year, shot a 1-under-par 70. He’s in this field because of his win at the Senior PGA Championship.
There is potential severe weather in the Friday forecast that could interrupt second-round play. According to weather.com: “Thunderstorms likely. A few storms may be severe. High 78F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.”
There is a 60 percent chance of scattered thunderstorms forecast for Saturday’s third round and a 40 percent chance for Sunday’s final round.
Matt Kuchar withdrew Thursday morning before the first round with back problems, allowing for John Huh, the next alternate, to get into the field.