AUGUSTA, Ga. – Prior to the opening round of the Masters, three-time champion Phil Mickelson was asked what it would mean to win a fourth green jacket, tying Arnold Palmer and Tiger Woods for the second most all-time.
“A lot,” he said succinctly.
When prodded to elaborate, Mickelson slowly annunciated, “It would mean an awful lot.”
With that in mind, an opening-round score of 2-over 74 wasn’t exactly what he had in mind, but he walked off the course pleased, armed with the knowledge that it could have been much worse.
“Today I missed the ball in the wrong spots and my short game did not save me,” Mickelson explained. “But I’m only 2-over. I know I’m playing well enough to shoot 6- or 7-under. If I can get a good, hot round tomorrow, I’ll be right in it.”
The lefthander was 4-over for his round after posting a jungle-ridden triple-bogey on the 10th hole that he termed “Tarzan-ish,” and still 4-over four holes later and with only four holes left to play.
With birdies on the 15th and 18th holes, though, he put himself into position to get within striking distance with a strong second round on Friday.
“I could have easily slid even further,” he said, “but I was able to make pars when I had to and birdies when I needed to.”
The birdie at the last was the culmination of a long day for Mickelson. At 7:40 a.m. – more than six hours prior to his tee time – he was on the first tee to watch the ceremonial tee shots of Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player.