Phil Mickelson catches 'break' for his best Open start in years - ESPN

PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — Using a combination of skill, luck and experience, 55-year-old Phil Mickelson turned back the clock at Royal Portrush on Thursday as he plotted his way through 18 holes before the weather worsened and carded a 1-under 70 for his best opening round at an Open Championship since 2016.

«We had a pretty good break before the rain came in. It came in just the last couple holes,» Mickelson said. «I really enjoy playing these conditions and playing this tournament. It's just a lot of fun.»

The six-time major winner was on top of the leaderboard early in the day after playing his first nine holes in 2 under. Mickelson stumbled into two bogeys on the back nine but was able to make a 20-footer on No. 17 to add another birdie to his card.

None of the birdies, however, were as impressive as the par he made on the par-3 third. Mickelson's tee shot found the tricky greenside bunker, and when he couldn't get out on his first attempt, he had to tap into some magic. His third shot landed right of the flag and spun into the hole for par.

«That was a crazy one,» Mickelson said. «To make it, it was obviously a lot of luck. It was crazy. I was just trying to save bogey, and I got lucky and it went in.»

Luck seems to be a much bigger part of the equation at a tournament like The Open, where weather conditions and links golf dole out unpredictable bounces and lies left and right. Mickelson, who won the 2013 Open at Muirfield in Scotland, said he was proud of how he has been able to embrace that style of golf over the course of his career.

«I think winning The Open in 2013 was the greatest accomplishment in my career because I had to learn a style of golf that I didn't grow up playing,» Mickelson said. «Now I've