LOUISVILLE, Ky. --
Phil Mickelson salvaged a good round after a strong finish, but it was the start that had him shaking his head.
"I was saying that I felt so good heading into this tournament, I had a great final round last week Sunday, but I also had three great practice days. My game felt really sharp," Mickelson said. "I stood on the first tee for the first time this year like I was ready to play, ready to compete, and try to win a championship. I hit the ugliest shot off the first hole. I mean, it was so far left I don't even know what to say. I was lucky it wasn't out of bounds. Horrific."
Mickelson managed to make a par at the hole, the par-5 10th, after getting a drop due to an obstruction. He was shaky starting out, but ended up playing his last 10 holes in 4 under par to shoot 2-under 69.
Although he has yet to post a top-10 finish this year on the PGA Tour, Mickelson was encouraged after a final-round 62 at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational on Sunday in which he made 10 birdies.
"I just need to get on the first tee with more confidence," Mickelson said. "When you are not in contention, when you haven't won a tournament, when you haven't played the way you expect to and you are not in the final groups for a while, you get nervous and that is exactly what happened. I just made some unconfident swings.
"I need to make confident, aggressive swings from the first hole, first shot, from here on forward because I can't afford to play like I did those first eight holes."