Phil Mickelson at PGA Championship 2016: Thursday Leaderboard Score and Reaction

Phil Mickelson will need to mount a sizable comeback over the next three days to contend at the 2016 PGA Championship after posting a one-over 71 in Thursday’s first round at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey. 

It’s a frustrating start for the 46-year-old American star. Not only is he coming off a second-place finish in the British Open in his last start, but he also earned his only PGA Championship triumph on this very course in 2005.

Let’s check out how Lefty’s opening round played out Thursday:

And here’s an updated look at the tournament leaderboard on Day 1:

Mickelson is less than two weeks removed from his memorable Sunday duel with Henrik Stenson at the Open Championship, which resulted in the Swede earning his first major title. Lefty said this week that seeing that opportunity slip away is going to linger, per Steve DiMeglio of USA Today:

I think it’s one of those things where I’ll look back over time and my disappointment will probably increase, because I think it’s the first time in my career that I have played to that level of golf and not had it be enough to win a tournament. That’s a disappointing thing because I would have loved to have added another Claret Jug.

The five-time major champion had played terrific golf all week at Royal Troon Golf Club in Scotland. He nearly set a new major record with a 63 in the first round and closed with a 65. Stenson was simply unstoppable as he drained putt after putt during their Sunday battle, though.

Mickelson struggled to find a similar rhythm throughout most of Thursday’s round. The confident play off the tee and the laser-guided approach shots were notably absent, …

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