Phil Mickelson, looking to become the oldest player to win a major, entered the final round of the PGA Championship with a one-shot lead over Brooks Koepka. By the turn, Mickelson’s lead was two.
Here’s how a frenetic front nine played out on the Ocean Course:
On the first hole, the 50-year-old Mickelson three-putted the first green while Koepka made birdie. Koepka led by one at 7 under.
Brooks takes the lead with a birdie on hole 1!#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/OcaDdf2aBz
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 23, 2021
Then after a two-shot swing in Koepka’s favor at the first, there was a three-shot swing in Mickelson’s favor at the second.
After Mickelson quickly lost his anticipated lead, there was a three-shot swing in Mickelson’s favor at the second. Mickelson went on to make birdie, while Koepka made double bogey on the par-5 second. Mickelson led by two at that point.
After a two-shot swing in Koepka's favor at the first, there's a three-shot swing in Mickelson's favor at the second.
— Golf Central (@GolfCentral) May 23, 2021
Phil makes birdie, Brooks makes double bogey. Phil now leads by two.pic.twitter.com/FFMM6OKKKV
On the par-4 third, Koepka missed a 3-foot putt for birdie, while Mickelson bogeyed, decreasing his lead to one stroke.
On the fourth hole, Mickelson and Koepka both made par.
After Mickelson hit his tee ball it into the bunker on five, he then holed it for birdie for the highlight of the afternoon, taking a two-stroke lead over Koepka and Kevin Streelman.
Phil Mickelson holes his bunker shot for birdie on the par-3 fifth to regain a two-shot lead over Brooks Koepka and Kevin Streelman.pic.twitter.com/m9CcsNWdef
— Golf Central (@GolfCentral) May 23, 2021
On the par-4 sixth, Koepka re-tied the lead with a birdie, where Mickelson bogeyed.
Koepka re-ties the lead with this birdie on the sixth hole.
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 23, 2021
Buckle up.#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/iWYv29qJhi
Then a two-shot swing at the par-5 seventh, Mickelson made birdie and Koepka made bogey to put Mickelson up two on Koepka and Louis Oosthuizen.
Mickelson is now up by ✌️pic.twitter.com/7PNo11fvBE
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) May 23, 2021
For the second time of the day, Mickelson and Koepka made matching pars on No. 8, placing Mickelson at 7 under and Koepka at 5 under.
To cap off the front nine, Lefty parred the par-4 ninth to keep a two-shot lead on Koepka.
.@PhilMickelson sinks the par to maintain a two-shot lead after nine.#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/3MG7sQzCov
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 23, 2021
And then they turned and headed toward the back nine.