I could say maybe I got a little lethargic, when I started last year, I was a little hurt and my speed wasn't where it needed to be and my back was aching and consequently it led to a terrible year.

Phil Mickelson

Categorized in : Sports

I didn't feel like going back and forth, i would do it again. I wanted to get to the next hole and I didn't see that happening at the time without the two shots.

I know it is a fine line between testing the best players to the greatest degree and then making it carnival golf, the USGA (U.S. Golf Association) are doing the best they can to find that line, and a lot of times they do, and sometimes they cross over it.

I didn't really have it today but I was able to close out the round with a couple of birdies and get it back to even, my iron play needs to be a little bit better. And when I miss a green I've got to be sharper around the greens.

I finished the round off, even though I didn't quite have it there at the end, i had a nice simple round going and then I missed the last four fairways.

I was worried about energy this week. And I just kind of ran out... by Phil Mickelson

I was worried about energy this week. And I just kind of ran out at the end.

I look at 2000 as being kind of the benchmark at the U.S. Open as being the greatest golf I've ever witnessed and I believe has ever been played, and it sucked to have to play against him.

I don't think (we) will ever see that level of play again, it was the most remarkable golf in the history of the game and I think unrepeatable. I think it was that good.

Fifteen years ago my record against him sucked, and now it's okay, i'm doing better as time has gone on.

We both struggled today, fortunately I’ve got my instructor here and I ’m going to get a little practice session in and try to get this right.

It really does feel good to finally get the scores out of it, to know that I am playing well, i know that, as I look back on those other victories here, how special they were... I've got a little bit of work to get my ball striking back to that level that I need it to be for tomorrow's round. But it's fun to be back in the thick of it.

I fought hard today, the golf course was playing much more difficult with the firm greens and the wind picking up.

I am very pleased with the way I am striking the ball, the way I am chipping, putting, i thought I was going to shoot a lot lower than I did... I didn't expect to play one over( par) coming in. But I'm not going to complain because I made a lot of good putts on the front( nine).

It was a fun start to the year. I've had a lot of time off, it was fun to get back into the swing of it, i had a good solid round.

The entire Presidents Cup is going to come down to tomorrow's sin... by Phil Mickelson

The entire Presidents Cup is going to come down to tomorrow's singles matches.

I came out of my 3-wood a little bit so it was very short, and I didn't catch my next 3-wood that great, so I was left with 60 yards back into the wind. It was a perfect shot I could spin. It might not be a bad way to play the hole given those wind conditions. But I was disappointed I missed that putt. I had about a 6-footer. That would have been a heck of a par on that hole.

That was fun day, i still feel I left three or four shots out the... by Phil Mickelson

That was fun day, i still feel I left three or four shots out there.

Chambers Bay’s a special course in that there are a lot of different shots to play to a lot of different pins, if you play the highest percentage shot Chambers Bay’s not Chambers Bay. But if you don’t know what [ the right ] shot is, there is a lot of penalty there.

I feel like I ’m a lot closer, but I’ve been saying that for months now and it has n’t quite clicked, but these last five days I’ve had the biggest strides in my game. I ’m controlling my misses better and I ’m hitting a lot more good shots.

But I'm excited with what's going to happen the rest of the year. I'm excited with where I see my game going. ...It's kind of like, you have got to take baby steps.

If you count money for those last three or four months, you're giving the bottom half of the tour a three-month head start over ultimately the top guys.