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Phil Mickelson Downplays 1st-Round 73 at Charles Schwab Challenge: 'I Won The PGA'

May 28, 2021
Phil Mickelson plays his shot from the sixth tee during the first round of the Charles Schwab Challenge golf tournament at the Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, May 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
Phil Mickelson plays his shot from the sixth tee during the first round of the Charles Schwab Challenge golf tournament at the Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, May 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)

Phil Mickelson may have shot a three-over 73 to in the first round of the Charles Schwab Challenge on Thursday, but he's naturally in great spirits after taking home the PGA Championship last weekend:

The six-time major winner outlasted Brooks Koepka and Louis Oosthuizen by two strokes apiece to take home the Wanamaker Trophy at the Ocean Course in Kiawah Island (South Carolina) Golf Resort following a six-under result. It was his first major win since taking home The Open Championship in 2013.

Thursday did not go as well for Mickelson, who explained his difficulties at Colonial Golf Course in Fort Worth, Texas.

"It was almost like I was trying a little too hard, and I wasn't just calm and let it happen, and I was a little bit antsy," Mickelson said, per the Associated Press (h/t ESPN.com), which also noted that the 50-year-old used the term "unsettled."

"Like I just couldn't quite get calmed down in that same frame of mind," Mickelson added.

Mickelson is 10 shots behind co-leaders Jordan Spieth and Sergio Garcia, but not all is lost for the left-hander, who is only one shot below the two-over cut line.

However, as Mickelson noted, he's still riding the good vibes from the PGA Championship, which he hopes will help him turn the tide around on Friday.

"You can't play this course out of the rough because then you have tree trouble, which I had repeatedly, and I didn't putt well," he said. "But I won the PGA, so I'll see if I can get it turned around for tomorrow and get a little better focus, a little better energy."

Mickelson's PGA Championship win made him the oldest-ever golfer (and the only one 50 or older) to take home a major title.

Charles Schwab Challenge 2021: Jordan Spieth, Sergio Garcia Share Lead After Round 1

May 27, 2021
Jordan Spieth follows his shot off the 12th tee during the first round of the Charles Schwab Challenge golf tournament at the Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, May 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
Jordan Spieth follows his shot off the 12th tee during the first round of the Charles Schwab Challenge golf tournament at the Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, May 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)

Jordan Spieth and Sergio Garcia lead a quality field at the Charles Schwab Challenge after each shot 63 in the first round.

Both golfers finished with a bogey-free round Thursday at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, to finish seven strokes under par. Spieth and Garcia sit two strokes clear of Erik Compton and Jason Kokrak, who are tied for third place after 18 holes.

Justin Thomas, Phil Mickelson and Patrick Reed are among those also in attendance in the competitive invitational that has a $7.5 million purse.

Round 1 Leaderboard

T1. Jordan Spieth (-7)

T1. Sergio Garcia (-7)

T3. Erik Compton (-5)

T3. Jason Kokrak (-5)

T5. Adam Hadwin (-4)

T5. Brandt Snedeker (-4)

T5. Kramer Hickok (-4)

T8. Patton Kizzire (-3)

T8. Cameron Tringale (-3)

T8. Talor Gooch (-3)

T8. Robert Streb (-3)

T8. Sebastian Munoz (-3)

T8. Byeong Hun An (-3)

Full leaderboard and stats available at PGATour.com.

It was Spieth who set the early standard Thursday when he shot 63 in the morning session that featured seven birdies.

He looked especially good with his approach shots throughout the round.

Spieth excelled on the green as well while finishing with 4.216 strokes gained putting. The 27-year-old has six top-10 finishes in his last nine starts and has always played well at this event.

It could make the University of Texas product a top contender for the rest of this event.

Sergio Garcia showed it was not going to be a runaway, however. The veteran finished with his own 63 and was especially impressive around the turn with a run that included three straight birdies leading to an eagle on No. 11.

He later earned a share of the lead with a birdie on No. 15.

It could create an exciting battle at the top of the leaderboard with three rounds to play.

Other big names didn't fare as well, including Mickelson, who shot 73 in his first round after winning the PGA Championship on Sunday. He didn't seem to mind when discussing it after the round.

Thomas, the world's No. 2-ranked player, also struggled on his way to a plus-2 score of 72, sitting tied for 69th after the first round.

These players will have to return with low scores in the second round in order to finish above the cut line.

Aaron Rodgers Tweets 'Star Wars' Video Roasting Tom Brady, Phil Mickelson

May 27, 2021
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers passes during the first half of the NFC championship NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Green Bay, Wis., Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers passes during the first half of the NFC championship NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Green Bay, Wis., Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and 2020 U.S. Open winner Bryson DeChambeau will be taking on Tampa Bay Buccaneers signal-caller Tom Brady and six-time major winner Phil Mickelson in the fourth edition of Capital One's "The Match"

The trash talk is already flowing, with Brady making his mark on social media Wednesday. Rodgers has responded, however, with this Star Wars-themed offering:

https://twitter.com/AaronRodgers12/status/1397729571693232128

Brady fired off a few memes Wednesday, using a still image featuring Brooks Koepka's annoyance at DeChambeau interrupting his PGA Championship interview last weekend:

The latest edition of Capital One's "The Match" will occur on Tuesday, July 6, with TNT providing the television coverage starting at 5 p.m. ET. Moonlight Basin in Big Sky, Montana will host the charity match, which will include donations to Feeding America and other causes.

Phil Mickelson: PGA Championship Win Alone Doesn't Warrant US Ryder Cup Selection

May 26, 2021
KIAWAH ISLAND, SC - MAY 23: Phil Mickelson smiles with the Wanamaker Trophy after his two stroke victory in the final round of the PGA Championship on The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort on May 23, 2021, in Kiawah Island, South Carolina. (Photo by Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR via Getty Images)
KIAWAH ISLAND, SC - MAY 23: Phil Mickelson smiles with the Wanamaker Trophy after his two stroke victory in the final round of the PGA Championship on The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort on May 23, 2021, in Kiawah Island, South Carolina. (Photo by Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR via Getty Images)

Phil Mickelson isn't looking to parachute in on the United States Ryder Cup team based largely on his victory in the PGA Championship.

"If I'm the captain, I'm not going to want a guy that plays well one week in an entire year," Mickelson said of potentially playing in the event. "And so just because I played really well last week and won a big championship, that does not warrant a spot on the team by any means."

The 50-year-old indicated he'd be willing to join the U.S. squad if he thought he had earned the right.

The World Golf Hall of Famer was an unexpected winner at Kiawah Island Golf Resort not just because he became the oldest major champion in history, but also because he simply hasn't played well in 2021.

Immediately preceding the PGA Championship, Mickelson had finished 69th in the Wells Fargo Championship and missed the cut in the Valspar Championship. The PGA Championship was his first top-10 finish in 14 PGA Tour events.

According to the Tour's official site, he ranks 169th in scoring average (71.854), 199th in driving accuracy (51.36 percent) and 123rd in greens in regulation (64.47 percent).

Because of last week's result, Mickelson moved 36 spots up to 16th in the standings for the U.S. Ryder Cup team, with the top six golfers automatically qualifying. With 6,575.57 points, the San Diego native trails sixth-place Xander Schauffele by 4,715.62 points.

Mickelson has competed in 12 Ryder Cups, a biennial competition between the U.S. and Europe, and he's one of the greatest golfers of his generation. Especially in a team event, experience can go a long way toward finding the right balance between talent and personalities.

But the pre-PGA Championship version of Mickelson wasn't somebody you'd expect to see at Whistling Straits in September. Perhaps he turned a meaningful corner at Kiawah.

Bryson DeChambeau to Brooks Koepka: 'It's Nice to Be Living Rent Free in Your Head!'

May 26, 2021
KIAWAH ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA - MAY 23: Bryson DeChambeau of the United States stands on the first tee during the final round of the 2021 PGA Championship held at the Ocean Course of Kiawah Island Golf Resort on May 23, 2021 in Kiawah Island, South Carolina. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
KIAWAH ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA - MAY 23: Bryson DeChambeau of the United States stands on the first tee during the final round of the 2021 PGA Championship held at the Ocean Course of Kiawah Island Golf Resort on May 23, 2021 in Kiawah Island, South Carolina. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

Brooks Koepka's reaction after seeing Bryson DeChambeau during an interview at the 2021 PGA Championship has gone viral, and the Scientist responded on Twitter on Wednesday.

Koepka tweeted an apology to Aaron Rodgers for a series of posts made by Tom Brady that used the Koepka meme, prompting this response from DeChambeau:

Koepka, though, was ready with a retort: 

Brady used that meme to troll Rodgers on Wednesday after the announcement of their faceoff in Capital One's The Match on July 6:

Koepka and DeChambeau have a longstanding feud that began in 2019 when Koepka was one of several players on the PGA Tour to criticize DeChambeau's slow pace of play. 

ESPN's Tory Barron noted DeChambeau commented on Koepka's physique when the latter was featured in ESPN The Magazine's Body Issue. 

"He doesn't have any abs, to be honest," DeChambeau said during a video game live stream. "I got some abs!"

When word got back to Koepka, he fired off this tweet: 

The image includes Koepka's trophies for winning two PGA Championships and two U.S. Opens, plus gold medals from his wins with Team USA at the Ryder Cup in 2016 and 2018. 

DeChambeau doesn't have Koepka's body of work, but he does have the most recent major win. The 27-year-old won the 2020 U.S. Open in September, his first victory in a major tournament. 

PGA of America Apologizes to Mickelson, Koepka for Swarm of Fans at PGA Championship

May 25, 2021
KIAWAH ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA - MAY 23: Phil Mickelson of the United States leaves the 18th green after winning during the final round of the 2021 PGA Championship held at the Ocean Course of Kiawah Island Golf Resort on May 23, 2021 in Kiawah Island, South Carolina. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/PGA of America/PGA of America via Getty Images)
KIAWAH ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA - MAY 23: Phil Mickelson of the United States leaves the 18th green after winning during the final round of the 2021 PGA Championship held at the Ocean Course of Kiawah Island Golf Resort on May 23, 2021 in Kiawah Island, South Carolina. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/PGA of America/PGA of America via Getty Images)

PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh has issued an apology to Phil Mickelson and Brooks Koepka on Monday after fans swarmed the 18th hole during the final round of the 2021 PGA Championship on Sunday.

Mickelson, who won the tournament to become golf's oldest major champion at age 50, called the scene "a little bit unnerving, but it was exceptionally awesome, too," while Koepka said his surgically repaired right knee was struck by spectators rushing through the crowd that was following his playing partner toward the green.

"Yeah, it would have been cool if I didn't have a knee injury," Koepka told reporters. "Got dinged a few times in the knee in that crowd because no one really gave a s--t, personally. But if I was fine, yeah, it would have been cool. It's cool for Phil. But getting dinged a few times isn't exactly my idea of fun."

A similar scene developed during the final round of the 2018 Tour Championship, when Tiger Woods won his first tournament in more than four years.

The difference in that is the security was able to keep the crowd mostly behind Woods and Rory McIlroy. In this instance, the fans rushed ahead of Mickelson and Koepka to position themselves near the green and forced the players to fight through the mass of humanity.

Koepka explained his caddie, Ricky Elliott, was also struck and had to stop for a moment, which left them even deeper in the crowd as they tried to approach the green.

"Somebody jammed Ricky," Koepka said. "Ricky stopped unintentionally because he got drilled in the face, and then I got hit because he got stopped so quickly. There were so many people around."

It showcased that crowd control, which hasn't been a factor for much of the past year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, is once again a concern. The announced attendance for the PGA Championship was 10,000 fans per day, and the PGA of America is hoping to reach full capacity for September's Ryder Cup.

The PGA Tour season resumes Thursday with the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas. The next major, the U.S. Open, begins June 17 at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego.

Mickelson Tells Brady They Have 'Unfinished Business' After Loss to Tiger, Manning

May 24, 2021
HOBE SOUND, FLORIDA - MAY 24: Phil Mickelson reads a putt for NFL player Tom Brady of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks on the 17th green during The Match: Champions For Charity at Medalist Golf Club on May 24, 2020 in Hobe Sound, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images for The Match)
HOBE SOUND, FLORIDA - MAY 24: Phil Mickelson reads a putt for NFL player Tom Brady of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks on the 17th green during The Match: Champions For Charity at Medalist Golf Club on May 24, 2020 in Hobe Sound, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images for The Match)

One year to the day, Phil Mickelson still hasn't forgotten losing Capital One's "The Match: Champions for Charity" to Tiger Woods and Peyton Manning.

Following his triumph in the PGA Championship on Sunday, Mickelson responded to a tweet from The Match playing partner Tom Brady and teased another encounter down the road.

Mickelson and Brady mounted a comeback bid, cutting a 3-up lead for Woods and Manning to 1-up with four holes remaining. Unfortunately, they were unable to level the score and force a playoff.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaO81rxZuyE

Mickelson did come out victorious alongside Charles Barkley against Peyton Manning and Stephen Curry in Capital One's "The Match: Champions for Change."

Nonetheless, the 50-year-old clearly carries a bit of a chip on his shoulder from last May.

Phil Mickelson's Sister Tina Shares 'Nervous' Text from Mom During PGA Championship

May 24, 2021
KIAWAH ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA - MAY 23: Phil Mickelson of the United States gives a thumbs up during the final round of the 2021 PGA Championship held at the Ocean Course of Kiawah Island Golf Resort on May 23, 2021 in Kiawah Island, South Carolina. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
KIAWAH ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA - MAY 23: Phil Mickelson of the United States gives a thumbs up during the final round of the 2021 PGA Championship held at the Ocean Course of Kiawah Island Golf Resort on May 23, 2021 in Kiawah Island, South Carolina. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Phil Mickelson's family apparently watches him with the same mindset as every single golf fan.

Tina Mickelson, Phil's sister, shared a message from their mother Mary midway through the PGA Championship advising him "just to par in" and not "hit bombs or activate calves."

Mickelson has been undone by his own aggression in the past, most famously during the 2006 U.S. Open at Winged Foot.

The 50-year-old avoided a similar meltdown Sunday at Kiawah Island Golf Resort in South Carolina. He held off Louis Oosthuizen and Brooks Koepka to become the oldest man to win a major championship.

It's unclear whether Mary Mickelson's guidance filtered its way down to Phil. Considering he drilled a 366-yard drive down the 16th fairway, he may not have gotten the memo.

Tiger Woods: Phil Mickelson's Historic PGA Championship Win Is 'Truly Inspirational'

May 24, 2021
THOUSAND OAKS, CA - OCTOBER 25: Tiger Woods watches his tee shot on the 10th hole while Phil Mickelson gets ready to hit during the final round of the ZOZO Championship at Sherwood Country Club on October 25, 2020 in Thousand Oaks, California. (Photo by John McCoy/PGA TOUR via Getty Images)
THOUSAND OAKS, CA - OCTOBER 25: Tiger Woods watches his tee shot on the 10th hole while Phil Mickelson gets ready to hit during the final round of the ZOZO Championship at Sherwood Country Club on October 25, 2020 in Thousand Oaks, California. (Photo by John McCoy/PGA TOUR via Getty Images)

Tiger Woods called Phil Mickelson's PGA Championship victory "truly inspirational" following the conclusion of the tournament Sunday.

At 50, Mickelson became the oldest golfer to win a men's major championship. He held off Louis Oosthuizen and Brooks Koepka, who finished two shots behind the leader.

To some extent, Woods will know how Mickelson is feeling right now.

Because of repeated back trouble, Woods went on a long drought after winning the 2008 U.S. Open, and fans probably gave up hope of him getting title No. 15. Then he defied the odds at the 2019 Masters.

Mickelson had merely fallen victim to Father Time, making his PGA Tour Champions debut in 2020. But he provided at least one more magical run before his days as a tour regular are finished.

Woods' usage of the word "inspirational" may have been intentional given the questions about his golf career in the wake of his February car crash that left him with significant leg injuries.

Mickelson didn't have to overcome that kind of hardship, but Tiger is likely to use Sunday's result to help fuel his quest for major No. 16.

Phil Mickelson's 2021 PGA Championship Win Earns Bettor $301k After $1K Wager

May 23, 2021
Phil Mickelson holds the Wanamaker Trophy after winning the final round at the PGA Championship golf tournament on the Ocean Course, Sunday, May 23, 2021, in Kiawah Island, S.C. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Phil Mickelson holds the Wanamaker Trophy after winning the final round at the PGA Championship golf tournament on the Ocean Course, Sunday, May 23, 2021, in Kiawah Island, S.C. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Phil Mickelson isn't the only one who is thrilled with his victory at the 2021 PGA Championship.

One bettor took home $301,000 with a $1,000 gamble on Lefty to win the major:

That bettor was surely sweating when Mickelson bogeyed Nos. 13 and 14 to fall to plus-one for the final round, but he responded with a birdie on No. 16 to create enough separation to survive another bogey on No. 17.

He finished Sunday's round with a one-over 73, but he was minus-six for the tournament and two shots clear of Louis Oosthuizen and Brooks Koepka.

Mickelson became the oldest major winner in golf history at 50 years, 11 months old.

Anyone willing to bet $1,000 on a long shot at history coming through like that deserves the massive payday.

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