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Five of Mickelson's seven birdies came on the front nine at
Timuquana Country Club. Had Mickelson not bogeyed his final
hole, he would have the lead all to himself.
Mickelson, 51, has prospered in his limited time playing
Champions Tour events. He won in his first two appearances and
is making just his fourth start on the tour this week.
"I like the fact that it's 54 holes," Mickelson said. "It's not
anywhere near as mentally and physically draining as the regular
tour and you don't have to be as perfect as on the PGA Tour
because the penalty for (a) miss is so much greater there.
"Now, granted, the golf course is challenging here and there's
some spots you've got to be careful, but for the most part it's
just really fun being out here and playing fewer holes and being
able to play aggressive, kind of like the way I like to play."
The first round survived a midday rain delay, as all 81 players
in the field still managed to finish their rounds before dark.
Mickelson birdied his last hole before the delay and his first
hole coming out of it.
"I made a good putt there on the first hole that we came back,"
he said. "I had already hit it close. I wasn't quite on when we
got back out there, I just was a little bit off. I hit a few
wayward shots, I just didn't feel great but fought to finish the
round off and try to regroup for tomorrow. It's a good start,
though."
Tied with the six-time major champion is Gogel, playing on a
sponsor exemption. The former PGA Tour player won just once on
the main circuit, at the 2002 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
Another newcomer to the 50-and-over tour is Beckman, who earned
his first Champions win in July at the Dick's Sporting Goods
Open. Beckman had six birdies and one bogey Friday.
"You know, it's my first year out here, so I'm working on trying
to be more consistent, and the last couple weeks I've played
really well and just didn't get much out of it, so hopefully I
get a little more this week," Beckman said.
Germany's Bernhard Langer, the Schwab Cup money leader entering
the week, is part of an eight-way tie for fifth at 4-under 68.
Jim Furyk founded the event to benefit his charity, the Jim &
Tabitha Furyk Foundation, and has expanded it from a one-day
pro-am to a regular tournament for the first time. Furyk is tied
for 13th at 3-under 69.
--Field Level Media
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