Phil-on: The Mickelson of old
The short jab with his left fist to celebrate birdies and even a few pars. A thumbs-up to the gallery.
Phil Mickelson at times looked to be about the only one having fun yesterday in a PGA Championship that has become the ultimate test without being extreme.
But then what’s not to enjoy?
The 50-year-old Mickelson looked like the Mickelson of old on another windswept grind around the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island, South Carolina, running off five birdies over his last eight holes, the last giving him a three-under 69 and a share of the lead.
“To know I’m playing well heading into the weekend, to be in contention, to have a good opportunity, I’m having a blast,” Mickelson said.
Mickelson shared the lead with Louis Oosthuizen, the South African with the sweet swing and hard luck in getting that second major. Oosthuizen didn’t make a bogey until his final hole, and his 68 allowed him to join Mickelson at five-under 139. It was the highest 36-hole score to lead a PGA Championship since the last time at Kiawah Island in 2012.
The opportunity for Mickelson includes his bid to become golf’s oldest major champion — the record was set by 48-year-old Julius Boros in the 1968 PGA Championship — and to show he can still beat the best in the world.
Mickelson has not won on the PGA Tour for two years. His last major championship was the 2013 British Open at Muirfield. He no longer is among the top 100 in the world.
But he’s Phil Mickelson, and has spent a career leaving fans wondering what he’ll do next.
Mickelson is the oldest player to have a share of the 36-hole lead in a major since Fred Couples (52) at the 2012 Masters.
Brooks Koepka had a pair of eagles offset by four bogeys and scrambled for par on the 18th hole for a one-under 71 that left him one shot behind in conditions he loves.
“It’s a major, man. It’s going to be tough, especially with the wind blowing,” he said. “It doesn’t matter, just go out and play.”
Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama dropped a shot on the 18th hole and still shot 68, leaving him in the group two shots behind.
The casualties included the top two players in the world — Dustin Johnson and Justin Thomas missed the cut.
Cameron Tringale was two shots off the lead going to the 14th hole and 15 shots behind when he walked off the 18th green. That included a bogey, double bogey, triple bogey, quadruple bogey and quintuple bogey, not in that order. He rallied for an 82.
Shane Lowry hit one so far to the right on the par-five 16th that he was on the beach. A picket fence in his way, he was able to get back on grass and saved par on his way to a 71.
Ian Poulter was six-under for his round through 12 holes when he noticed a video board behind the green that suggested he had a shot at the course record.
“I just started laughing to myself like, ‘Who in the world would write that and put that on a board with that last five holes to play?”’ Poulter said.
He bogeyed four of his last six, which feature the four hardest holes on the course, for a 70.
Only 18 players remained under par, which included US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, who looked exhausted walking off the course after a 71 that featured no birdies on the back nine.
“It’s a piece of work,” Paul Casey said after a 71 left him in the group three behind.
“But I quite enjoy it in a sick and twisted kind of way.”