PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Traditional headgear gave way to wool caps pulled over their ears. The cold wind was so fierce that it toppled a tree on the 17th hole at Spyglass Hill and bent flags sideways at Pebble Beach.

The opening round brought back memories of the notorious weather at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

It also might have marked the return of Phil Mickelson.

Lefty has been nowhere near the top of a leaderboard since he was one shot ahead with one hole to play at the U.S. Open last summer. He bungled his way to a double bogey at Winged Foot, finished his season in September by going 0-4-1 at the Ryder Cup, and didn't exactly set golf afire in his first three tournaments of 2007.

But he always saw progress. And on Thursday, he finally saw some results.

Mickelson ran off five birdies in six-hole stretch at Poppy Hills, then finished his round of 7-under 65 with a 4-iron from 230 yards into 18 feet for eagle on the ninth hole to tie for the lead with Nick Watney and 27-year-old rookie John Mallinger.

"I'm off to a good start," he said.

Mallinger had the best start of all, and not only because of three birdies measuring a combined 100 feet to start his round.