WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W. Va. – After missing the cut at last year’s edition of The Greenbrier Classic, Phil Mickelson vowed to return with renewed focus on climbing the leaderboard this time around.
Through one round, that isn’t the case.
Mickelson posted an opening-round 1-over 71 on Thursday, a roller-coaster of a round that included three birdies, two bogeys and a double-bogey.
Playing with the tournament’s only two previous champions in Scott Stallings and Stuart Appleby, Mickelson hit only 10 of 18 greens in regulation and needed 29 putts. It left him eight strokes off the pace set by early leader Vijay Singh.
In 14 starts on the PGA Tour this season, Mickelson has made 12 cuts, with a first-, second- and third-place finish so far.