Good start, great chance?
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Brian Gay had the best opening round. Phil Mickelson called his first 18 holes a good start at the St. Jude Classic.
Gay shot a 6-under 64 for a one-stroke lead Thursday on a TPC Southwind course softened a bit by a thunderstorm overnight and some spotty showers early in the round. Jimmy Walker shot a 65, and Jose Maria Olazabal and Rich Beem were tied in a group at 66.
It's a nice change for Gay, who has fought with his game and through a couple injuries since winning at Hilton Head earlier this year. A win here would clinch a spot next week in the U.S. Open at Bethpage Black for someone who was three strokes off qualifying Monday.
"Obviously, 6 under is great almost anytime you start at 6 under, so I'm pleased. Been a little bit of a struggle lately. My ball striking hasn't been there really since I won. I've had some minor injuries. ... Just looking to get something going," Gay said.
Just getting on a golf course was good for Mickelson in his first event since announcing his wife, Amy, has breast cancer. He was tied with 16 others at 2 under following a round in which he sliced a 4-wood off the tee into the pond at No. 18 as part of a double bogey.
"It wasn't a great round, but it was a good start," Mickelson said.
He appeared fatigued with a tee time Thursday that had him in the fourth group. He practiced at Bethpage Tuesday before flying into Memphis Wednesday for an emotional news conference before an afternoon pro-am round that was his only look at a course redesigned since his last visit here in 2001.
Mickelson said he'll have plenty of time to rest for an event he's using to prime himself for the U.S. Open and as a brief distraction before his wife has surgery the first week of July.
Mickelson said the round felt typical once he got going, and he couldn't have started much better with an approach hit to 5 feet for birdie. He then holed out a 25-footer for birdie on his next hole, the par-3 11th. His worst shot came off the 18th tee.
"I felt a little rusty, but I made a couple of birdies early, and that made it more relaxed," he said.
