Phil Mickelson upstaged star duo Tiger Woods and Australia&aposs Adam Scott to take a share of the first-round lead at the Deutsche Bank Championship on Friday. Mickelson, who was grouped with Woods and Scott, started on the 10th hole and scorched his first nine holes to be seven under to that point, raising the possibility of the five-time major winner joining the 59 club. The 43-year-old British Open champion had to eventually settle for an eight-under 63 at TPC Boston but it saw him tied with Briton Brian Davis at the top of the leaderboard, while Mickelson&aposs compatriot Kevin Stadler trails by one shot in the second event of the lucrative FedExCup play-offs. Mickelson&aposs hopes of a 59 were undone by bogeys on the first and ninth holes, though he lit up the course with the top-ranked Woods and second-ranked Scott looking on, holing a 19-foot birdie putt on the 10th. Davis joined Mickelson in the lead with his bogeyless 63 including a string of birdies to finish the 16th, 17th and 18th holes. Meanwhile, Stadler took advantage of the perfect early morning conditions to shoot a 64, including one bogey and eight birdies. Woods, the FedExCup points leader, overcame a bogey at the first hole to card four birdies, while Scott failed to produce the form that saw him clinch The Barclays title last week, carding a disappointing two-over 73 on an ideal morning in Massachusetts. Scott bogeyed the sixth, 10th and 14th holes with his lone birdie coming at the 16th hole. A group of four players are tied for fourth at six under; Americans Hunter Mahan, Roberto Castro, John Huh and Spaniard Sergio Garcia. Jason Day is the best placed of the Australian contingent after managing a four-under round of 67 which sees him in a tie for 23rd. Marc Leishman (-1), Greg Chalmers (E), Matt Jones (+1) and Stuart Appleby (+3) all have work to do when the second round gets underway on Saturday night AEST.
Author: Omnisport