Phil Mickelson cards disastrous 10 on 18th hole of Texas Open

Phil Mickelson had one of the worst holes in his life in the first round of the Valero Texas Open in San Antonio.

The 50-year-old Mickelson, who is now also playing some events on the Champions Tour, posted a 10 on the par-5 18th hole when he took two penalty shots and another three strokes trying to get away from a greenside stream.

He finished with a a 7-over 79, 15 shots behind leader Camilo Villegas who fired a first-round 64.

The 10 was tied for his second-worst hole of his PGA Tour career, according to Golfweek. He once carded an 11 at Pebble Beach in 2008 and posted scores of 10 in the 2018 U.S. Open and 2000 Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Mickelson’s final hole at TPC San Antonio’s Oaks Course got off to a promising start with a booming 306 yard drive into the center of the fairway.

But it all went down hill from there.

Mickelson tried to reach the green in two on his second shot but his ball just missed the green and bounced into a creek that runs on the right side of the green and down through the fairway.

After taking a penalty, Mickelson’s fourth shot came up short and rolled back into the rough below the green. His fifth failed to get on the green as did his sixth. His seventh shot hit the rock facade and rolled back behind him into a hazard.

After one more penalty, Mickelson — who has plummeted to No. 106 in the world golf rankings — then ran one to the back of the green, 15 feet from the hole.

And, of course, in typical “Phil the Thrill” fashion, he sunk the tricky putt to make 10.

In addition to Mickelson’s final-hole disaster, he had a three-putt inside nine feet and on the next hole missed from less than four feet, but he had managed to be just 2-over through 17 before the mayhem struck.

Mickelson has won five majors in his career to go along with 44 PGA Tour victories. But this not the kind of momentum “Lefty” — who has won three green jackets — was looking for heading into next weeks’ Masters at Augusta National.

— with AP

source: nypost.com