LOS ANGELES — Pat Perez hasn’t gone up against Phil Mickelson since the opening round of the Match Play Championship four years ago.

“I lost,” Perez said.

He was quick to point out, however, that they won’t be going head-to-head this weekend at the Northern Trust Open. Even so, Mickelson appears to be as formidable as Riviera, or any other golf course.

Mickelson holed out a lob wedge from the eighth fairway for eagle on his way to 1-under 70. That turned out to be enough for a one-shot lead over Perez, who played Friday afternoon and kept bogeys off his card for a tournament-best 65.

“I’m not playing him,” Perez said. “Obviously, he’s playing well, and I’m going to have to play awfully well to beat him this weekend. I’m not worried about him. It’ll be fun to play with him, but I know that I have to play well out there to beat everybody else, as well.”

At the moment, all eyes are on Mickelson.

He picked up his 40th career title with a memorable Sunday at Pebble Beach, where he rallied from six shots behind on the last day for a bogey-free 64 and a two-shot victory (beating Tiger Woods by 11 shots while paired with him in the final round).

Mickelson was at 6-under 136.