Phil Mickelson shot a 6-under-par 65 on Thursday to share the lead in the first round of the Scottish Open in Luss, Scotland.
The two-time Masters champion had an eagle and five birdies in the British Open warm-up at Loch Lomond.
“We had a great day to score low,” Mickelson said. “There wasn’t much wind and the greens were putting very well. It’s a fun test of golf and it was fun to play well the first day.”
Graeme Storm, Soren Hansen and Lee Westwood also shot 65 to tie Mickelson, and Mikko Ilonen, Marcel Siem, Mark Foster and Christian Nilsson trail by a stroke.
Colin Montgomerie, who won the European Open on Sunday, birdied three of the first five holes but settled for a 69.
Ernie Els (69) had four bogeys and six birdies, and was followed by Luke Donald (70) and U.S. Open champion Angel Cabrera (71).
Mickelson had been troubled by a wrist injury, but showed little sign of it Thursday.
“There is still pain. Every time you make contact, it stings,” he said. “But I know I can’t damage it any further and so I’m not afraid to go for the shots.”
PGA: Neal Lancaster shot a 7-under 64 to grab a one-shot lead over Duffy Waldorf, Paul Stankowski, Kenny Perry, Scott Gutschewski and Jason Dufner after the first round of the John Deere Classic in Silvis, Ill.
Masters champion Zach Johnson was at 1-under 70, and defending champion John Senden was in danger of missing the cut after shooting 7-over.
Kent Denver graduate Kevin Stadler was five strokes off the lead after a 2-under 69.
LPGA: Four-time tournament winner Se Ri Pak shot an 8-under 63 to take the first-round lead at the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic in Sylvania, Ohio. It was the best opening round in the tournament’s 23-year history.
Alena Sharp was two shots back at 6-under. Only five others were within five shots of the lead, including defending champion Mi Hyun Kim.
Pak bogeyed her first hole, after hitting into the rough, then strung together three consecutive birdies. She ran off five birdies on the back nine, making a 25-putt on the 17th hole.
Pak is trying to match Mickey Wright’s tour record of five victories in one event – matched twice by Annika Sorenstam – and knows the course better than any player in the tournament.
“Everyone asks why. I don’t know,” she said. “I always feel comfortable here.”
Pak won her first Farr title in 1998 when she was 20. She also won in 1999, 2001 and 2003.
Canada’s Sharp had seven birdies and one bogey to shoot 65. Her approach shot on the final hole nearly bounced in for eagle.
“I learned last year how to make the cut,” she said. “This year I feel I have a good shot at winning a tournament.
“I don’t want to get ahead of myself. It’s only Thursday.”
Amateurs: Andy Roberts, the 64th and lowest seed, reached the final eight in match play in the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship in Wheaton, Ill.
The quarterfinal and semifinal rounds will be held today to determine Saturday’s finalists.
