Highlights: Phil makes 10 birdies, one eagle in opening 60 - see them all

Getty Images

Perhaps we should all have such low expectations of our games.

Phil Mickelson expected to be "rusty" in Round 1 of the Desert Classic. Instead, he shot 12-under-par 60. Here's a look at all of his highlights from Thursday at La Quinta Country Club.

His day began with a birdie at the par-4 first.

This approach shot at the par-4 second set up birdie No. 2.

After a pair of pars, Mickelson got to 3 under par with a birdie at the par-5 fifth.

He then made this short putt for eagle at the par-5 sixth.

And added this birdie at the par-4 ninth to turn in 6-under 30.

Mickelson stayed hot on the back, making this long birdie putt at the 10th.

And then getting up and down for another birdie at the par-5 11th.

Another up-and-down, this time from the bunker, at the par-5 13th, got him to 9 under par.

This chip-in at the 14th got him to double digits under par.

Needing to play his final three holes in 3 under to shoot 59, he got off to a good start with a birdie at the par-4 16th.

MIckelson would par the 17th hole, but he finished with his 10th birdie of the day - to go along with that eagle - to shoot his third career 60.

More articles like this
Golf Central

American Express to sponsor former Bob Hope

BY Will Gray  — 

Played this year as the Desert Classic, the PGA Tour's annual stop in Palm Springs will be known as The American Express beginning in 2020.

Thumbnail
News & Opinion

Monday Scramble: 50 wins looking far less likely for Phil

BY Ryan Lavner  — 

Phil Mickelson has a goal of 50 career PGA Tour wins, but he missed a golden opportunity to get closer to that mark this past week. How many more chances will he have?

Thumbnail
News & Opinion

Ultimate underdog Long triumphs in desert

BY Ryan Lavner  — 

Adam Long took down Phil Mickelson in a shocking ending to the Desert Classic on Sunday – though not to Long, now a PGA Tour winner in just his sixth start.