Phil Mickelson Opens With Just Two Pars in Nine Holes at PGA

Some might consider that a deceptive headline. See, the point of it is to get people to think "Oh Wow, Phil Mickelson must really be struggling out on the golf course today!" when in fact, it's just a funny way of explaining Lefty's first nine holes.

Starting on number 10 today, Mickelson opened with two bogeys, made a birdies, followed that with consecutive pars (boo consistency!) and then made two bogeys and two birdies to finish up his outward nine. In a more successful way than John Daly and Michelle Wie, Lefty has a great gift of making a scorecard look like a strand of multi-colored Christmas lights and still posting a number around par. He's even par through 13 holes so far at Oakland Hills.

Robert Karlsson, Jeev Milkha Singh and Sean O'Hair are all tied for the lead at two-under with Anthony Kim and Sergio Garcia both lurking (and playing together) at one-under.The best score of the day posted is from one of the PGA club professionals, Frank Esposito Jr., who fired a one-over 71 and is currently tied for 14th.

A few golfers not having the best of days that might have been considered favorites heading in are Hunter Mahan and Lee Westwood, both seven-over for the day. Mahan already has a double-bogey and triple through his first 12 holes while Westwood has four holes left to card his first score on a hole under-par.

Daly has yet to tee off, but his caddy is strictly enforcing the "one beer a hole" rule in hopes the true Roy McAvoy will come out of him. Get your DVR ready.