Phil Mickelson Holes Vintage Chip Shot in Surprising Round 1 of Open Championship

LIV Golf: Phil Mickelson Makes an Impressive Chip Shot in Round 1 of the Open Championship

Phil Mickelson showcased his remarkable skills on Thursday during the first round of the Open Championship. After leaving a shot in a bunker, he knocked in the next one from 75 feet away for an unexpected par. He tipped his cap and flashed a thumbs-up to the cheering crowd.

It felt reminiscent of the Mickelson of yesteryears, especially with the grey stubble adorning his beard. Mickelson started strong with a 1-under 70 at Royal Portrush and has already set the record as the oldest winner of a major championship, having clinched the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island in 2021 when he was 50. Now, he finds himself competing in the oldest championship in golf, a tournament that is notably more forgiving to players of all ages. The Open is where 53-year-old Greg Norman once led into the final round at Royal Birkdale in 2008 and where 59-year-old Tom Watson was merely an 8-foot putt away from victory at Turnberry in 2009.

Experienced Players Share Their Perspectives

“The Open gives the older gentlemen a chance to win more than any other tournament,” said 52-year-old Lee Westwood, who tied for the lead early in the round before a few bogeys set him back to a score of 69. This marks Westwood’s first British Open appearance since joining the Saudi-funded LIV Golf in 2022, having gone through the final regional qualifying just three weeks ago to secure his spot x777 login app download apk latest version.

While Westwood hasn’t secured a win in LIV Golf yet, his performance suggests he is still capable of competing at notable levels me777 app login philippines. “Links golf helps,” Westwood explained. “There’s not the premium on carrying traps. 8k8 com login register They don’t make it unplayable for us older guys with length ph365 log in to receive 1999. You can use your experience, guile and cunning on them.” He humorously noted that while it’s “not easy to say, but easy to use at our age.”

Mickelson Finds His Form

Mickelson, who has not claimed a victory since his iconic win at Kiawah Island, had missed the cut in all three majors this year. At 55, he still has six more years to compete in the British Open as a champion, having won at Muirfield in 2013. He started remarkably well, demonstrating finesse with his wedge to set up an easy birdie opportunity on the par-5 second hole. However, the real magic came on the next hole when he found himself in a tricky bunker. free bonuses After an initial attempt failed to clear the lip, Mickelson splashed out and made the shot from about 10 feet away, showcasing a stroke of luck. “That was a crazy one,” Mickelson remarked. “I was just trying to save bogey and got lucky that it went in.”

Throughout the morning, Mickelson maintained his position on the leaderboard, marking a birdie on the par-5 seventh hole and a 20-foot birdie on the 17th, despite a few bogeys along the way. Remarkably, he had gone 21 consecutive rounds in a major without breaking par until his stellar performance at the British Open. While he benefitted from avoiding the rain for most of the round, he acknowledged that it was solid golf. “I played really well, and I had an opportunity. I really enjoy playing these conditions and this tournament. It’s just a lot of fun.”

Challenges for the Older Contenders

However, not all of the 50-and-older players were faring well. Padraig Harrington, fresh off his victory at the U.S. Senior Open, had the honor of hitting the opening tee shot. He made a birdie on the first hole, which turned out to be the highlight of his day as he finished with a score of 74. “I got a little emotional when I was clapped on, then I calmed down, and I was kind of fine when I was hitting it,” Harrington shared. However, he struggled with back-to-back three-putts and even lost a ball on the 10th hole. “It was a tough day on the greens, and it just ate into my game,” he admitted. While he may have felt the pressure of the first tee, Harrington expressed that he believed he could have performed better.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

What do you think about the performances of the older golfers in this year’s Open Championship?