2021 Open Championship: Phil Mickelson in Last Place After 80

SANDWICH, ENGLAND - JULY 15: Phil Mickelson of the United States reacts on the 18th green during Day One of The 149th Open at Royal St George’s Golf Club on July 15, 2021 in Sandwich, England. (Photo by Oisin Keniry/Getty Images)

Phil Mickelson has already claimed a major title this season, winning the PGA Championship. But after an awful round to start the 2021 Open Championship, he won’t be adding another one this week.

Mickelson, who won the Claret Jug in 2013, struggled from almost the very start on Thursday. And by the time his round was over, he was almost completely out of contention not only to win, but to make the cut.

Lefty was able to start out OK. He parred the first hole, the parred the second. But after that, it was all downhill.

Mickelson bogeyed the par-3 third hole. He followed that with a bogey on the par-4 fourth. Then another bogey on the par-4 fifth. He dropped to 3-over par in the span of just three holes.

He would get things back on track, ever so briefly, with a par on the sixth hole. But he followed that with a bogey on the par-5 seventh hole, dropping to 4-over par.

Mickelson would par the par-4 eighth hole before closing his front nine with a bogey at the par-4 ninth. He shot a 5-over par 40 on the front nine.

Lefty seemed to settle things down as he made the turn.

He opened his second nine with pars on the 10th, 11th and 12th holes to remain at 5-over par. He then bogeyed the par-4 13th hole to drop to 6-over par.

After a par at the 14th, Mickelson slipped up again. He bogeyed the par-4 15th hole, then bogeyed the par-3 16th. That dropped him to 7-over on his round.

Lefty was able to par the 17th hole but butchered the 18th on his way in. He finished with a double bogey, giving him an 80 for the round. When he finished, he was dead last in the 156-player field.

It was the worst Open Championship round ever for Mickelson. And it’s a day he hopes he can soon forget.