by We’re just nine competitive rounds into 2019, but we already have our first 59 scare of the year. “The Match” champion got off to a blistering start in the desert on his way to a 60 (-12). Shane Lowry leads the way in Abu Dhabi while Marty Dou captured the first Web.com event of the season.
Desert Menu
Phil Mickelson has historically started his season during the California swing and seemed to have low expectations before Thursday’s round. He claimed that he was a little rusty and yet, was excited to be playing. 60 shots later, Mickelson finds himself 4 strokes ahead of the rest of the field. He made 10 birdies and an eagle and needed just 21 putts to get through the round. We all know Mickelson won his last event over the stacked field at Shadow Creek, so this isn’t surprising at all.
This is the fourth time in Mickelson’s career that he shot 61 or better, and he went on to win each of the other three events. Desert Classic Leaderboard
Other Leaderboard Notes
Long Hitter the Llama – In second place, three shots back of the Mickelson, is Adam Long. A 31-year-old journeyman, Long is in his first full season on the PGA Tour. He finished 13th on the Web.com regular season money list last year.
Live Unda’ Pa – Third place belongs to Curtis Luck, another first-year PGA Tour member. He shot a first-round 64 on Thursday in his best round of the season. Luck first burst onto the scene in 2017 as he qualified for the Masters two separate ways, winning both the US Amateur and the Asia-Pacific amateur.
Youngins– A slew of other young players find themselves in the top ten through one round: Trey Mullinax (65), Wyndham Clark (65), Adam Svensson (66), CT Pan (66), and Adam Schenk (66). Jon Rahm also shot 66 and is young, but everyone knows him so we won’t expound on his greatness at this moment. (He is the defending champion).
The man, the myth, the legend – Steve Marino also finds himself in the top ten after a first-round 66. At 38, Marino has bounced around and seen some things. We would highly encourage you to do some google searches to learn more about the life and times of Steve-O.
Watch the Irish and Bring the Coffee
Shane Lowry leads the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship through two rounds in the UAE. Lowry got off to a blistering start on Wednesday with a course record 62 and followed it up with a 70 on Thursday. Lowry leads a pair of South Africans, Richard Sterne and Louis Oosthuizen (-11), by one shot and is two shots clear of Lee Westwood (-10), cue boastful Andy. Other notables include Ian Poulter (-9), Brooks Koepka (-7), Thomas Pieters (-7), Martin Kaymer (-6), and Eddie Pepperell (-6). Coverage continues on Golf Channel this weekend if you’re willing to be up in the middle of the night!Leaderboard
Dou Boi
Despite a turbulent final round, Marty Dou was able to capture the first Web.com Tour event by two shots. Dou started the day with a three-shot lead but fell one shot back with just three holes to play. The 21-year-old then closed with birdies on the final three holes, none more emphatic than his putt on 18. Marty had a historically bad year on the PGA Tour last year, missing 19 of 23 cuts and never finishing better than T-51st. After his round, he commented that he even contemplated whether professional golf was for him. He needed to get off to a good start this year, and he’s done it.
Ben Kohles and Steve Lebrun (Stevie Fountains) finished in a tie for second, two shots back of Dou. Lebrun is a 40-year-old journeyman who has been historically good on Florida mini-tours, but the runner-up was his best career finish on the Web. Kohles recorded his best Web finish since the 2012 season after closing with a 64. Other highlights include Zac Blair finishing T-8 by going -6 over his last 6, Rob Oppenheim collecting his first top 5 since 2017, and Wavegod Willy Wilcox finishing T-4. Leaderboard
Quick Hooks
Brooke Henderson and Eun-Hee Ji lead the LPGA’s season opening Tournament of Champions after opening with 66s. Leaderboard
Tiger will make his 2019 debut at Torrey Pines and Riviera over the next few weeks.
La Maquina is…back? Check out Tron Carter’s tweet.
The Latest Podcasts and Articles
Browner Pastures
A story about the legacy of pasture golf and the founding of the backyard club Brough Creek National. Read here.
Geoff Ogilvy Podcast
We are excited to launch our new regular podcast with former U.S. Open Champion Geoff Ogilvy. Andy and Geoff will speak regularly about all things from professional golf to golf courses and the architecture behind them. For the first episode, the two spoke about the Hawaii swing, the similarities between Kapalua and Augusta, the new rule changes and much more. Listen to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher or Spotify.
Shotgun Start: Phil knocks off the “rust,” a Latin America Am story, and a PGA West Flashback Friday
Brendan and Andy close out the week with a review of all the golf from across the globe. They cover Phil Mickelson’s 2019 debut and some of the fascinating less-heralded stories on the Desert Classic leaderboard. Then they whip around from Westy’s work in Abu Dhabi to the Singapore Open and back to the LPGA’s celebrity event in Orlando. Andy goes into the archives for a Flashback Friday on the debut of PGA West at the 1987 Bob Hope and the revolt of angry players against the Pete Dye design. Brendan then relays a story from a listener and former Latin America Amateur contestant from the United States who became a Dominican citizen over one weekend to get into the field. They also discuss the latest from Matt Kuchar’s tipping travesty and comments from Fred Ridley on how the Masters plans to operate within the new rules. Listen on iTunes, Stitcher or Spotify
