Highlights: Phil makes 10 birdies, one eagle in opening 60 – see them all

May 14, 2019

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Perhaps we should all have such low expectations of our games.

Phil Mickelson expected to be “rusty” in Round 1 of the Desert Classic. Instead, he shot 12-under-par 60. Here’s a look at all of his highlights from Thursday at La Quinta Country Club.

His day began with a birdie at the par-4 first.

There it is. ☝️?@PhilMickelson's first birdie of the 2019 season. ?#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/bUmktfwCNU
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 17, 2019

This approach shot at the par-4 second set up birdie No. 2.

From the rough …
Wow, @PhilMickelson. ?#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/z7E1UbPIZ9
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 17, 2019

After a pair of pars, Mickelson got to 3 under par with a birdie at the par-5 fifth.

-3 thru 5. ???@PhilMickelson is tied for the lead @Desert_Classic. ?#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/o1oE8yBR6I
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 17, 2019

He then made this short putt for eagle at the par-5 sixth.

? for Lefty. ?@PhilMickelson leads by 2 @Desert_Classic.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/yzsjFTB3ma
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 17, 2019

And added this birdie at the par-4 ninth to turn in 6-under 30.

That's how you make the turn. ?@PhilMickelson finishes his front nine with four birdies and an eagle. ?????
He leads at -6.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/tNBW0eat0R
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 17, 2019

Mickelson stayed hot on the back, making this long birdie putt at the 10th.

Wow.
Another birdie for @PhilMickelson.
-7 thru 10 holes.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/d7Vzrqe8UA
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 17, 2019

And then getting up and down for another birdie at the par-5 11th.

Nothing like a @PhilMickelson flop shot.
-8 thru 12 holes.#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/IVayAGRuQj
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 17, 2019

Another up-and-down, this time from the bunker, at the par-5 13th, got him to 9 under par.

Lefty is putting on a clinic with his wedges today. ?@PhilMickelson is -9 thru 13 holes.#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/AXgLxKD0Hg
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 17, 2019

This chip-in at the 14th got him to double digits under par.

Stop it, @PhilMickelson!
-10 with 4 holes to go.#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/cdWXOPVRoI
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 17, 2019

Needing to play his final three holes in 3 under to shoot 59, he got off to a good start with a birdie at the par-4 16th.

?59 WATCH?@PhilMickelson needs to birdie his final two holes to shoot 59!#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/gvAHCUhpJg
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 17, 2019

MIckelson would par the 17th hole, but he finished with his 10th birdie of the day – to go along with that eagle – to shoot his third career 60.