Feb9 Mickleads

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Phil Mickelson finally showed signs of turning the corner yesterday.

Mickelson, nowhere near the leaderboard since his collapse at the U.S. Open last summer, hit a 4-iron from 230 yards into 18 feet for eagle on his final hole at Poppy Hills for a 7-under 65 to share the lead with rookie John Mallinger and Nick Watney at the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

“I didn’t think it would take three tournaments to get to where I wanted to be,” said Mickelson, playing for the fourth straight week. “But each tournament, I saw progress.”

Mickelson and the rest of the 180-man field also saw a return of the notorious weather – known in these parts as ‘Crosby’ weather as a tribute to when Bing Crosby was host of a tournament that featured every element just about every hour. Cold. Windy. Wet.

It was better to be at Poppy Hills than the other two courses in the rotation because it is the farthest from the Pacific Ocean and protected by tree-lined fairways. That’s where Mickelson and Watney played.

The best round belonged to Mallinger, who was on the wrong course, but at the right time.

Pebble Beach sits along the bluffs of the Pacific, bare to the wintry wind that was so strong at times it toppled a tree on the 17th fairway around the corner at Spyglass Hill.

“There’s nowhere to hide there,” Jim Furyk said after his 67 at Spyglass.

Mallinger, however, started his round on the 10th hole in the virtual calm of the morning. The wind didn’t arrive until he had only five holes remaining, and by then he had done most of his damage.

Of course, it helped that he made 100 feet worth of birdie putts on his first three holes, starting with a 60-footer just off the green.

Over at Spyglass, Furyk played his best golf in the worst conditions. His 2-under start was wiped out by a double bogey from two bunkers on the sixth hole, and he was even when the trees began to shake. Then he made five birdies on the back nine.

“I’m glad I got through there,” he said.

But the place to be was Poppy Hills. It was the only course that averaged under par in the opening round at 71.73. Spyglass Hill, traditionally the toughest in calm conditions, averaged 73.17, while Pebble checked in at 74.98.

“It’s the most shielded course of the three,” Watney said. “I got a good break playing Poppy.”

Mickelson has not contended since his double bogey on the 72nd hole at Winged Foot, and he had not played since going 0-4-1 at the Ryder Cup. He took a three-month break, typical for him, and came into the year full of energy.

The rust was unexpected. His iron play was shaky in two middle-of-the-pack finishes at the Bob Hope Classic and Buick Invitational, and his putting let him down last week in Phoenix when he missed the cut.

He spent the last five days working on the short stick, and it paid off on Thursday.

“You’re not going to make them all,” Mickelson said. “But I started every putt on line with the right speed.”

John Daly was among the early contenders at Pebble Beach, 4 under through seven holes, when the wind arrived and knocked down a 5-iron into the hazard on the ninth hole, leading to double bogey. His last tee shot didn’t quite carry far enough and tumbled down the rocks on the 18th hole, giving him a bogey for a 72.

“It’s just like it always is around here – miserable,” Daly said. “I haven’t played here in about four or five years, and it was miserable then, too.”

Did you know… Because of rain in the forecast, players were allowed to lift, clean and place their golf balls in the fairway. Among the amateurs in the field is Walter Driver Jr., president of the U.S. Golf Association. The USGA is so fundamentally opposed to the local rule that one official once called it “lift, clean and cheat.” When he was jokingly asked how his conscience would allow him to abide by this policy, Driver smiled and said, “I’m off this week.” … Fred Couples withdrew shortly before his 9:40 a.m. tee time at Poppy Hills because of a bad back. Because there was no PGA Tour alternate was on site – not unusual for the three-course rotation – his spot in the field was taken by Adam Machala IV, who was caddying for Couples’ amateur partner. Turns out Machala is the head pro at Somerset Hills in New Jersey. Machala played for the pro-am score, although it didn’t do much good. They shot 80!

PCITURE: Phil Mickelson tees off on the 12th hole during the first round of the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am golf tournament at Poppy Hills golf course in Pebble Beach. By Tony Avelar, Associated Press

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