Phil Mickelson Shoots 63 at Northern Trust Open

So far, 2009 has not been Phil Mickelson's year. Lefty has played in three tournaments, missing the cut in one and making just over $30,000 combined in the other two, putting him a measly 136th on the FedEx Cup points list.

What is the best way to break out of a nasty slump? Play, and play well, at a tournament you won the year before.

Thursday at Riviera Country Club in the first round of the Northern Trust Open, Mickelson shot an eight-under 63 that included no bogeys and just 22 putts, missing the course record by only two shots and putting him three shots up on the field.

Mickelson had played nine rounds in '09 without breaking 70, so the 63 was a little unexpected, especially with all the trouble Phil had been having with hitting fairways to start the year (he had switched to a new driver in the offseason). Lefty started his round on the 10th hole with a birdie, made four on his way out and four on his way in for what appeared to be as easy a 63 as you'll see.

Phil also hit 50 percent of his fairways and 67 percent of the greens, getting up and down whenever he needed to at the famed Riviera.

A group of guys that include Jim Furyk, Luke Donald and last week's winner Dustin Johnson are chasing Mickelson at 5-under.

Ryo Ishikawa, the 17-year-old phenom from Japan, was making his PGA Tour debut on Thursday and after a birdie on his first hole of the tournament, struggled a bit on his front nine and is currently two-over with five holes to play.

You can follow the live leaderboard of the tournament right here, and why wouldn't you? It just makes sense.