Phil Mickelson watches a stroke during the first round of Liv Golf Hong Kong on Friday.
AFP through Getty Images
Phil Mickelson, at the age of 54, had to lose his first Golf The start of the season due to a shoulder injury when it was a late scratch for the tournament in Riyadh. He returned to another in Australia and caught him with his best round, shooting four under Sunday.
So far he is continuing the positive momentum. Mickelson opened with a 67-year-old in Liv Hong Kong on Friday, who was good enough for a tie for 14th place after the first round. Paul Casey runs to seven under, two of a large group in five under.
If this goes on, Mickelson can credit a new strategy he has decided to include in 2025.
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“In recent years I’ve been fighting it, meaning I have played not within myself, trying to defeat a course where I don’t have speed like boys with 190 (ball speed),” Mickelson said after his round. “This offseason thought, well. I have to find another way. I have to find another way to shoot results and try to beat these boys.”
On Friday, Mickelson began in the 18th hole, made his first Bogey to 1 and added birds to 2, 3, 7 and 8. Three late birds were mostly wiped out of two Bogeys during his last four holes.
Mickelson was pleased with his ball, but not with mistakes (four bogeys), and he says restricting them will be his new formula moving forward, which is a cry away from it Mantra “Bomba Hit” from a few years ago.
“The way I will have to find another way to win is less mistakes,” Mickelson said. “I can’t let them do so much bogeys. But I offset it with some birds, and I hit a lot of good shots and a lot of good strokes. I didn’t put myself so far after the first round.
“Tomorrow I have to go out and eliminate those mistakes, make six, seven birds, return to him on Sunday,” he continued. “I have to find another way because I won’t hang out with speed, so I have to find another way.”
After this week, Mickelson has two events left (Liv Singapore and Liv Miami) before playing in his 32 Master. He tied up for the 43rd at Augusta National last year, but was tied up for the second a year ago.
