Mickelson’s ‘terrible’ play leaves him eager for today
While a good number of golfers in the morning session were shooting low numbers, Phil Mickelson never made a move, finishing his round at even-par 72.
“I played terrible, and unfortunately I put myself back a bit,” Mickelson said. “But I’ve been playing well. I’m looking forward to getting out here (Friday) and seeing if I can get back in it.”
Mickelson, who won here in 2011, has a way to go to catch Rickie Fowler, who shot a bogey-free 8-under-par 64. Mickelson, who had three birdies and three bogeys, managed to get to 1 under, but that was it.
But Lefty didn’t hit his irons close, didn’t make any long putts and even found a few hazards.
“I wasn’t sharp,” Mickelson said. “It’s just not clicking.”
Kang only recalls 65, not past 78
Sung Kang’s 7-underpar 65 was an improvement of 13 shots from the last time he played the Tournament Course at the Golf Club of Houston.
Kang, who is one stroke out of the Shell Houston Open lead after Thursday’s opening round, carded a final-round 78 at last year’s tournament.
“I don’t remember that,” Kang said jokingly. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I think I hit it into the water about four times on (hole) 18.”
On Thursday, Kang was tied for the lead with Rickie Fowler at 8-under-par before missing a five-footer for par on the 18th hole.
“That last hole, unfortunately I had a couple of spike marks,” said Kang, who tied for 18th in last year’s U.S. Open.
“I hit it, and it took it to the right.”
Bradley targets spot in Masters
A winner of one major, Keegan Bradley needs to win the Shell Houston Open to earn a spot in next week’s Masters. Bradley captured the 2011 PGA Championship as a rookie.
Bradly got off to a fast start Thursday, making birdies on his first four holes, and is in good position. Bradley’s 5-underpar 67 is 3 shots off the pace. Playing at Augusta National is the goal, but he doesn’t want to get ahead of himself.
“It’s very difficult, but there’s still one spot you can get,” Bradley said. “I’m not thinking of that. It’s so early. First round, Thursday morning, so there’s still a lot of golf to be played.”
Greens as good as gold as usual
With Wednesday’s heavy rains – the 1½ inches of rain at the Golf Club of Houston forced cancellation of the pro-am – the question was what impact it would have on the greens for Thursday.
Many golfers felt the greens would probably be slow. That wasn’t the case, according to Aaron Baddeley.
“They weren’t slow at all,” Baddeley said. “They were quick. You didn’t have to think about getting it to the hole at all. The ball was rolling nicely. This course is perfect, the greens are perfect. Get it on line, it’s going in.”
Cancer screenings to be available
On Saturday at the Golf Club of Houston, free skin cancer screenings will be available to the public at the Shell Houston Open, 5860 Wilson Road in Humble. The screenings will take place from noon to 4 p.m.
The screenings are courtesy of cancer prevention specialists from the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Physicians will perform the screenings in a private area adjacent to M.D. Anderson’s Strike Through Cancer Pavilion by the 18th green.
No appointment is necessary and screenings take about 10 minutes.
Odds and ends
Seven of Rickie Fowler’s eight birdies were came on putts of 10 feet or less. … Since 2000, five first-round leaders of the SHO have gone on to win — D.A. Points (2013), Johnson Wagner (2008), Stuart Appleby (2006), Vijay Singh (2005) and Fred Couples (2003). … Justin Rose made five consecutive birdies on holes 9-13 to get to 5 under, where he finished. … Spring resident Patrick Reed made a 7 on the par4 fifth en route to a 5-over 77. … Qualifier Wesley McClain, a former University of Houston golfer, turned in a 4-under 68.