Lehman in share of lead at frost-delayed Phoenix Open
SCOTTSDALE: Americans Bill Haas, Tom Gillis, Jason Bohn and veteran Tom Lehman were tied for the lead when the frost-delayed first round of the Phoenix Open was suspended in fading light on Thursday.
Haas, Gillis, Bohn and Champions Tour player Lehman opened with matching six-under-par 65s on an unseasonably chilly day at TPC Scottsdale, one stroke better than compatriots Chris Couch, Ben Crane and Lucas Glover.
World number four Phil Mickelson, who discarded his windbreaker after the turn, bogeyed his first and last holes for a six-birdie 67 to end the day level with fellow Americans Chris Riley, Jeff Overton, Joe Ogilvie and Matt Bettencourt.
The start of the tournament was delayed by four hours due to heavy morning frost and none of the afternoon field had completed the opening round when play was halted for the day.
Sixty-six players were still out on the course and will have to finish their rounds on Friday when another frost delay is expected. Officials expect that most of the second round will spill over into Saturday.
Mickelson, Phoenix Open champion in 1996 and 2005, was surprised how good the playing conditions proved to be at Scottsdale after the frost-delayed start.
"I expected the golf course to be frozen and balls to be bouncing on the greens quite a ways," the left-hander told reporters. "It played terrific. The greens were receptive and I thought the course and set-up was in great shape."
Mickelson, runner-up at last week's Farmers Insurance Open in San Diego, felt his score on Thursday did not reflect how well he had played.
"I started and finished with a bogey but, in between there, I hit a lot of good shots and played well," the Masters champion said. "I didn't score as low as I probably should have or would have liked, but I didn't hurt myself at all.
"I'm in good shape after one day. I feel like I'm playing well. We're going to have some great weather on Saturday and Sunday, an! d I'm ex cited to get out on this golf course."
Lehman, who won the most recent of his five PGA Tour titles at the 2000 Phoenix Open, was delighted with his round and his burst of three birdies in the last four holes to finish.
"It was a good day," said the 51-year-old, who plays most of his golf on the over-50 circuit.
"I got off to a mediocre start, just a bunch of pars and then a chip-in on five. I started hitting the ball better and better and better as the day went on. So I'm happy."
Former world number one Vijay Singh, like Mickelson a double champion here, opened with a 69 while American left-hander Bubba Watson, winner of last week's Farmers Insurance Open, carded a 70.
Haas, Gillis, Bohn and Champions Tour player Lehman opened with matching six-under-par 65s on an unseasonably chilly day at TPC Scottsdale, one stroke better than compatriots Chris Couch, Ben Crane and Lucas Glover.
World number four Phil Mickelson, who discarded his windbreaker after the turn, bogeyed his first and last holes for a six-birdie 67 to end the day level with fellow Americans Chris Riley, Jeff Overton, Joe Ogilvie and Matt Bettencourt.
The start of the tournament was delayed by four hours due to heavy morning frost and none of the afternoon field had completed the opening round when play was halted for the day.
Sixty-six players were still out on the course and will have to finish their rounds on Friday when another frost delay is expected. Officials expect that most of the second round will spill over into Saturday.
Mickelson, Phoenix Open champion in 1996 and 2005, was surprised how good the playing conditions proved to be at Scottsdale after the frost-delayed start.
"I expected the golf course to be frozen and balls to be bouncing on the greens quite a ways," the left-hander told reporters. "It played terrific. The greens were receptive and I thought the course and set-up was in great shape."
Mickelson, runner-up at last week's Farmers Insurance Open in San Diego, felt his score on Thursday did not reflect how well he had played.
"I started and finished with a bogey but, in between there, I hit a lot of good shots and played well," the Masters champion said. "I didn't score as low as I probably should have or would have liked, but I didn't hurt myself at all.
"I'm in good shape after one day. I feel like I'm playing well. We're going to have some great weather on Saturday and Sunday, an! d I'm ex cited to get out on this golf course."
Lehman, who won the most recent of his five PGA Tour titles at the 2000 Phoenix Open, was delighted with his round and his burst of three birdies in the last four holes to finish.
"It was a good day," said the 51-year-old, who plays most of his golf on the over-50 circuit.
"I got off to a mediocre start, just a bunch of pars and then a chip-in on five. I started hitting the ball better and better and better as the day went on. So I'm happy."
Former world number one Vijay Singh, like Mickelson a double champion here, opened with a 69 while American left-hander Bubba Watson, winner of last week's Farmers Insurance Open, carded a 70.
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