Woods-Manning prevail in star-studded match, raised $20m for charity

MIAMI -- Tiger Woods says while his surgically repaired back may never be 10-out-of-10 again, it won't stop him from being healthy and ready to go when the PGA Tour starts up again.

The 44-year-old Woods says he's been able to use the down time during the coronavirus pandemic to get himself in shape for an expected condensed fall golf season. 

"It is going to be interesting," said Woods during a four-man charity golf tournament in Florida on Sunday. "I am used to trying to peak for majors in April, May, June and July, forever. Now this (COVID-19) has changed everything. It is fluid. It is on the fly." 

Asked to rate how his back feels on a scale of one to 10, Woods said, "Well, let's just say 10 is not what it used to be." 

PGA stars Woods and Phil Mickelson and two NFL quarterback legends Peyton Manning and Tom Brady squared off in an entertaining made-for-television charity golf event on Sunday that raised $20 million for coronavirus relief efforts.

The 18-hole match included nine holes of four-ball and nine holes of modified alternate shot, with on-course challenges for charitable funds. 

Woods, who paired with Manning, showed no rust as they held off a back-nine rally from Mickelson and Brady for a one-up victory in the 18-hole match play format.

Sunday's event, called "The Match: Champions for Charity," was a rematch of sorts for Mickelson and Woods, who faced off in a similar charity event last year in Las Vegas. It also marked a return to the golf course for the both PGA stars due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The PGA Tour is on hiatus until June 11, when the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial is scheduled to begin in Texas.

The charity match was the first competitive golf for Woods since the Genesis Invitational on February 16, where he shot weekend rounds of 76-77 to finish in 68th place at the Riviera Country Club course. 

He said the forced break has been refreshing and described his health as surprisingly good considering he has been taken out of his regular training regime. 

"It is nice to be at home training each and every day," Woods said. "I get some treatment on it and get onto a routine basically. 

"With this pandemic and everything that has happened, we (have) all been very careful and try to stay at home," he said.

Woods says he has enjoyed spending more time with his family and has added tennis to his workouts. 

"It has been good in that regard because I have been able to spend a lot of time with my kids. We had a lot of fun. This is the most amount of tennis I have played ever." 

The start of Sunday's match was delayed by rain that fell steadily throughout the majority of the round.

Woods helped offset the difficult playing conditions Sunday by taking advantage of competing on his home course, the Medalist Golf Club in Hobe Sound. 

"I am just trying to hit it in the right spots. I kind of know this place," he told a television interviewer early in his round.

The entertaining match featured plenty of friendly banter and trash talking going back and forth between four of North America's biggest sport stars.

Brady, who recently signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after winning six Super Bowl titles with the New England Patriots, made the shot of the day on the par-five seventh.

- Wardrobe malfunction -

Brady had been struggling for much of the first round, but his approach on No. 7 landed just past the hole before spinning wildly to the right and rolling into the centre of the cup.

"When the going gets tough, the tough get going," an obviously relieved Brady said of his first good shot of the day.

The shot was notable for another reason: it included a wardrobe malfunction. Brady also split his pants on the shot, resulting in a hasty costume change.

"There was so much torque on that swing," he joked.

The birdie also lightened the wallet of PGA golfer Brooks Koepka. When he saw Brady struggling early in the round, Koepka tweeted out a promise to donate $100,000 to charity if Brady could make a par on the front nine.

"Brooks owes me a little money," Brady said following his surprise birdie.

Agence France-Presse

Golf: Mickelson 'working on' 1-on-1 rematch with Tiger

MIAMI -- Five-time major winner Phil Mickelson hinted that a possible one-on-one rematch against Tiger Woods is in the works, one that could be contested despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Mickelson, a left-hander who turns 50 in June, defeated Woods, a 15-time major winner and reigning Masters champion, in "The Match" -- a 2018 pay-per-view, winner-take-all duel for $9 million at Las Vegas.


Asked in a Twitter chat Sunday night about the chances for a rematch with Woods, Mickelson tweeted, "Working on it."

The US PGA Tour has postponed all events until late May as a result of the coronavirus pandemic that has shut down major sports worldwide.

But a man-to-man matchup of the US stars with no live spectators would require only an official for rulings and television camera operators to produce likely hit programming, possibly even in a charity event to raise money to combat coronavirus.

A golf course would offer plenty of space to meet social distancing guidelines, with Mickelson tweeting on March 18 he had successfully played using safety measures.

"I played golf using these guidelines and it was nice to get outside, be active and still be safe for myself and others," Mickelson tweeted.

Mickelson sank a four-foot putt on the fourth playoff hole to beat Woods in the November 2018 showdown at Shadow Creek.

Agence France-Presse

Golf: Woods closes on upbeat note, no happy birthday for Mickelson

PEBBLE BEACH, CA. - Tiger Woods made another awful start before turning on the afterburners to shoot two-under 69 in the final round at the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach on Sunday.

It was too little, too late, but Woods left the oceanside course with some positive vibes after a frustrating week at the scene of his greatest performance.

"Again, got off to another crappy start and was able to fight it off," said Woods, who bogeyed four of the first six holes, the easiest stretch on the course, a day after bogeying two of the first three.

He birdied six holes thereafter on Sunday to finish at two-under 282.

Woods never came close all week to replicating his 15-stroke record runaway of 2000, not that it was realistic at age 43 to expect it.

The Masters champion now turns his attention to next month's British Open at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, the final major of the season.

"I've never been up to Portrush, and I'm looking forward to getting up there and taking a look at the golf course and trying to figure it out," said the 15-times major champion.

While Woods already has three U.S. Open titles under his belt, Phil Mickelson is still seeking his first in a championship that has caused him heartache like no other.

The six-times runner-up, who needs a victory to complete the career grand slam, shot 72 to finish at four-over 288 on his 49th birthday.

He arrived with high hopes at a course where he has won the annual PGA Tour event five times, but was never a factor all week.

That did not stop him from getting plenty of love from the galleries, who sang "Happy Birthday" at various stages of the final round.

"I thought this was a really good chance for me," Mickelson said.

"I just didn't putt my best, didn't chip my best. I actually played okay tee to green."

Five-times major champion Mickelson was philosophical about never winning his national open.

"Dealing with losing in this game is a huge thing because even the best, the greatest winners, win such a small percentage of the time," he said.

"But I have had so many special moments here at Pebble Beach. This was my first event as a pro, 1992, here."

Mickelson also turned his thoughts to the British Open.

"I played Portrush one time with my dad and it was a special, fun golf course," he said.

"It's been a while so I don't remember a lot of the details and subtleties of it." 

(Reporting by Steve Keating; Writing by Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina; Editing by Ian Ransom)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Win over Woods worth more than $9 million, says Mickelson

Bragging rights will be worth more than the $9 million prize money to Phil Mickelson when he takes on Tiger Woods in an 18-hole winner-takes-all pay-per-view showdown in Las Vegas.

For two of the world's richest athletes the prospect of pocketing millions for playing an afternoon round at Shadow Creek Golf Club on Friday may not set the heart racing.

But for Mickelson the thought of forever being able to wave that cheque in Woods' face was something priceless that left him giddy with excitement ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday clash.

"It's great to win the $9 million but I just don't want to lose to him and give him the satisfaction because the bragging rights are what is going to be even worse than the money," Mickelson said at a news conference on Tuesday to drum up interest in "The Match".

"Every time I see you I want to be able to rub it in. I want to sit in the Champions locker room at Augusta and talk smack. I want that."

That was about as close as Woods and Mickelson, two of the most fascinating and successful golfers of their generation, came to trading shots as they attempted to help sell the pay-per-view duel which can be seen for a modest $19.99.

Despite their best efforts the obligatory trash talk around the golfing cage match has been forced and limp.

Fifteen years ago the dislike was real and palatable, the jabs they took at each other stung.

But that once frosty relationship has thawed to the point that they play practice rounds together.

LOVE-IN

Anyone expecting the sort of foul mouth baiting that is part of boxing and UFC promotions were left sadly disappointed as the news conference turned into a love-in.

The 42-year-old Woods and Mickelson, 48, spent so much time lavishing praise on each other that it was hard to remember there was time when they actually disliked each other.

Even an attempt to end the news conference with a traditional boxing nose-to-nose stare down ended in farce with neither man able to keep a straight face for more than a few seconds before breaking into laughs and a hug.

"He's one of the greatest players to ever pick up a golf club," said Woods, the winner of 14 major titles.

"Greatest of all time," replied Mickelson, who has five majors in his trophy case.

One aspect of the event not manufactured is the competitiveness Woods and Mickelson bring to the golf course.

The showdown will be highlighted by several side bets and Mickelson wasted no time throwing down the gauntlet by betting Woods $100,000 that he would birdie the first hole.

Woods took the bait but not before upping the ante, telling Mickelson, "Why not $200,000".

"So you think you can make birdie on the first hole," said Woods smiling. "Double it."

The biggest bet being put down, however, is the one made by WarnerMedia and Turner Sports who are gambling there is enough interest to make the unique pay-per-view event a success.

"This is me versus him, this is winner take all and it has a unique special feel golf doesn't have all the time or rarely has ever had if ever," said Mickelson.

"I am hopeful that this is received well, I am hopeful we provide a glimpse into the future of what sport-watching is all about." 

(Reporting by Steve Keating in Toronto. Editing by Ken Ferris)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Mickelson 'would welcome' Ryder Cup pairing with Tiger

SAINT-QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES, France -- Phil Mickelson, whose disastrous 2004 pairings with Tiger Woods have become the stuff of Ryder Cup legends, said Tuesday he would enjoy another chance and thinks Woods would as well.

Mickelson and Woods will be teammates for holders United States against Europe when the 42nd Ryder Cup begins Friday at France's Le Golf National.

But it's questionable if Woods, a 42-year-old winner of 14 major titles, and left-hander Mickelson, a five-time major champion at age 48, would be united in foursomes or four-balls by US captain Jim Furyk.

"I think we would both welcome it," said Mickelson, who has grown closer to Woods since they began work on a USA Ryder Cup task force in 2014.

Asked if the pairing might happen, Mickelson said: "I do have an idea of what captain Furyk is thinking, yeah." Asked to elaborate, Mickelson answered: "What a good looking man you are."

Rivals most of their careers, they were partnered in 2004 by US captain Hal Sutton when they were the two top-ranked players in the event.

On day one, they dropped a morning four-ball match 2&1 and were defeated in foursomes 1up, losing the final hole after Mickelson sailed his tee shot into deep woods left of the fairway and Woods gave him a death stare for the ages.

"When we go over like little details as to why we were or weren't successful, when I talk about it openly and try to share insight, sometimes it comes across like I'm trying to take a shot at somebody, and I don't want to do that, so I'm not going to go into that anymore," Mickelson said of their 2004 pairing.

Mickelson notably revealed the lack of input by players into captain Tom Watson's decisions in a 2014 loss at Gleneagles, then became closer to Woods when they combined in a US attempt to improve Ryder Cup results in the wake of the flop in Scotland.

"That's a big part of it," Mickelson said. "When we started to really work together to succeed in the Ryder Cup, I think we realised that we both have a lot more in common than we thought and we both have really come to appreciate working together to achieve things."

Mickelson said he and Woods would fare better together now.

"The bottom line is going to be preparation," Mickelson said. "When we can eliminate the variables, eliminate the uncertainties, it eliminates the pressure."

Mickelson, set to face Woods in a pay-per-view golf showdown in November, asked Woods to be given a shot per side for their $9 million clash in Las Vegas after Woods snapped a five-year win drought two days ago by winning the Tour Championship in Atlanta.

"I'm trying to negotiate a shot a side," Mickelson said. "It didn't go over very well in the initial discussions but I'm still working on it. We've got some negotiating to do, given how well he played last week."

- A win to cherish? -

Mickelson makes his 12th Ryder Cup appearance, having played in 12 in a row since 1995. But Americans haven't won in Europe in 25 years, something Mickelson wants to change in what is likely his last chance as a player.

"I am aware this is most likely the last one on European soil and my last opportunity," he said. "That would mean a lot to me personally. I think it would mean a lot to our team and to the United States.

"If we were able to come out on top, it would be something I would cherish the rest of my life. Because I've played in these events for so long and have never won over here, it would be one of the moments I would cherish the most if we were able to come out on top."

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Mickelson salutes Tiger Woods win

ATLANTA -- Phil Mickelson led the praise for Tiger Woods after the former world number one ended a five-year title-drought with victory at the Tour Championship here Sunday.

Mickelson, who will face Woods in a lucrative head-to-head shoot-out in Las Vegas in November, said he had never doubted that the 14-time major winner would add to his collection of PGA Tour titles.

"He's played such good golf all year that it is just not surprising,” Mickelson said.

"Tiger's played so well on a very difficult golf course and we almost kind of expected it.

"We never doubted he woud not win again, not from what I've seen he's been swinging the club and the way he’s being playing.

"It was just a matter of time.”

The victory lifts Woods tally to 80 PGA Tour titles and just three wins shy of becoming the most successful player in the history of the PGA Tour.

Mickelson meanwhile said he is looking forward to joining up with Woods for this week's Ryder Cup in Versailles, despite a disappointing showing in Atlanta which saw him finish on 13 over par.

"It was not the week here I would have liked heading into any big tournament but next week in France is going to be totally different with different grass, different course and different everything so we’ll see," Mickelson said.

"It's going to be a special week and with Patrick (Reed) and I playing together today we were talking about it and it's going to be a fun and exciting week."

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Forbes list: Woods worth $740M; Jordan a billionaire

Golfers Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson and former NBA player Michael Jordan are among the 20 wealthiest American celebrities, Forbes reported on Wednesday.

Woods, 40, is the youngest person on the Forbes top-20 list, with a net worth estimated at $740 million.

The 14-times major champion, who trails only Jack Nicklaus (18 majors) on the all-time list, recently launched a competitive comeback after being sidelined for more than 15 months while recovering from back surgery.

Woods who went through a costly divorce in 2010 and lost several sponsors after revelations of multiple infidelity, is seventh on the list, while Mickelson is 18th, with an estimated worth of $375 million.

Jordan, 53, who retired in 2003 with the mantle of arguably the greatest basketballer, is worth $1.2 billion according to the magazine, good for fourth on the list, which is topped by filmmaker George Lucas ($4.6 billion).

Forbes says eligibility for the list was limited to United States citizens who are rich because of their fame, rather than famous because they are rich.

According to Forbes, President-elect Donald Trump belongs in the latter category.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Mickelson makes cut despite horror start, McIlroy misses it

SPRINGFIELD, New Jersey - Phil Mickelson made a "horrific" start to the second round of the PGA Championship on Friday but recovered to make the cut with nothing to spare, while Rory McIlroy's bogey at the last saw him miss out by one stroke.

Mickelson sliced his tee shot out-of-bounds at the par-four first, his ball landing on the adjacent Shunpike Road and bouncing onto another street.

"Just a total mental block on that first hole. It was just horrific," said Mickelson, who teed up again and in the end was fortunate to salvage a triple-bogey seven after almost hitting his approach shot out-of-bounds too.

"I think in the history of the PGA Championship, that's the worst start of any player's round. I'd have to look that up."

Mickelson looked stunned as he trudged to the second tee but settled down and had only one further blemish, a bogey at the 16th, before closing with a birdie at the par-five 18th to make the cut with nothing to spare.

"I was able to fight back and be patient, start to make a birdie here or there," the British Open runner-up said after shooting a 70 for one-over 141, 10 strokes behind leaders Jimmy Walker and Robert Streb.

"I actually hit a lot of good shots and missed on a lot good opportunities in the middle of the round."

McIlroy, who played with Mickelson, messed up the final hole to miss the cut for the first time in eight starts at the PGA Championship.

"I've hit the ball really well this week and I'm walking away not playing the weekend. It's really disheartening," said the world number four.

McIlroy, who continues to struggle on the greens, also missed the cut at the U.S. Open and tied for 10th at the Masters and for fifth at the British Open.

The Northern Irishman's last major win came at the 2014 PGA Championship in Kentucky.

"I just need to figure out what to do on the greens. I need to have a long hard think about that.

"I think if you had to give anyone else in this field my tee shots this week, they would have been up near the top of the leaderboard. It just shows you how bad I was around the greens."

Mickelson agreed.

"You watch him with a driver and it's the sweetest thing you can imagine," he said. "He's just so tentative through impact (with his putter). He's just not confident. You can just tell." (Reporting by Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina; Editing by Peter Rutherford; )

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Record-breaking Stenson lands first major at Troon

TROON, Scotland - Record-breaking Swede Henrik Stenson became the first Scandinavian male to capture a major when he won the British Open on Sunday, beating Phil Mickelson in an extraordinary final-round duel.

The world number six produced a swashbuckling eight-under-par 63 to finish 20-under on 264, three ahead of playing partner Mickelson (65).

The 40-year-old Stenson's round equalled the lowest in any major championship and his winning total was also a record for any of the 'Big Four' tournaments.

"Wow, this will take a little while to sink in," said Stenson as he held aloft the coveted Claret Jug. "I'm still trying to find my bearings here.

"I want to thank Phil for a fantastic battle. We played some great golf and I'm delighted to come out on top."

Like two prize fighters in a ring, the two men traded blow after stunning blow, reeling off birdie after birdie to turn the last day of golf's oldest major into a two-way procession.

The rest were nowhere with American JB Holmes (69) taking third spot on 278, 11 behind Mickelson as the leading pair evoked memories of the great 'Duel in the Sun' Turnberry Open of 1977 when Tom Watson edged out Jack Nicklaus in another epic head-to-head.

Steve Stricker (69) of the U.S. was in fourth place on 279, one in front of Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, Tyrrell Hatton of England and Spaniard Sergio Garcia.

Mickelson showed he meant business with a first-hole birdie after drilling a majestic approach to tap-in range while overnight leader Stenson took three putts.

BIRDIE BARRAGE

The Swede's response was instant and emphatic as he birdied five of the next seven holes, making a complete nonsense of gusts of up to 25mph on the windswept Ayrshire coastline.

Five-times major champion Mickelson, however, refused to be cowed and an eagle three at the fourth followed by a birdie two holes later meant he was only one behind at the turn.

The putts continued to fall at the 10th as both players birdied yet again.

The 46-year-old American, bidding to become the oldest winner of the Open in the modern era, levelled again at the 11th when his title rival three-putted for the second time.

As the wind died down and the sun made a rare appearance, Stenson delivered the coup de grace with a hat-trick of birdies at the 14th, 15th and 16th giving him a two-shot advantage with two holes to play.

Mickelson's last chance came and went at the 16th when his eagle putt just missed.

Stenson, full of adrenaline on the 18th tee, hammered his tee shot 310 yards down the fairway and was mightily relieved to see it stop 12 inches short of one of Royal Troon's fiendish pot bunkers.

He safely found the green with his approach and rolled in another monster putt to complete victory and post the 29th round of 63 in major championship history.

"I knew he wasn't going to back down at any point and in a way that makes it easier," said Stenson. "I knew I had to keep on pushing, keep on giving myself birdie chances."

Mickelson, who beat Stenson into second place when he won the 2013 Open at Muirfield, was generous in his praise.

"It's disappointing to come in second but I'm happy for Henrik, he's really a great champion," said the left-hander. "We've been friends for some time.

"I've always thought he is one of the best ball-strikers in the game and that major championships are perfectly suited for him. I knew he would ultimately come through and win."

(Editing by Martyn Herman and Pritha Sarkar)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Mickelson prolongs his US Open drought

TACOMA -- Phil Mickelson's US Open winless drought continued at Chambers Bay after his bid for a career Grand Slam skidded to a halt on a murderous row of front nine par-fours on Saturday.

The 45-year-old American had five bogey's on the front nine en route to a seven-over 77 in the third round of the 115th US Open.

"As bad as my score was, I hit a lot of good shots that ended up as bogeys," said Mickelson.

Mickelson has finished second a record six times at the US Open and needed to win in Chambers Bay to become the sixth player in history to complete a career Grand Slam.

The crowd favourite finished his round with nine bogeys, two birdies to go with seven pars.

Mickelson needed a good showing Saturday after shooting a second round four-over 74, but his game started heading south early on in the third round and continued to go downhill.

He started the day at three-over but the first sign of trouble came on the second tee box.

Already reeling from two bogeys on his first three holes, Mickelson headed to one of the toughest four-hole stretches of par fours in the history of the US Open, beginning with the 509-yard No. 4.

By the time he made the turn he was at five-over 35 and his chances of claiming his first US Open title had all but vanished.

Mickelson parred No. 1 but followed with three straight bogeys starting with the par-four 399 yard second hole.

His tee shot on No. 2 found the deep rough on the left side of the fairway. He knocked it out but the ball sailed across the fairway into the thick fescue on the right side, coming to a stop on the side of a slope and giving him an awkward downhill stance for his approach to the green.

Mickelson then hit a fine recovery shot to about 10 feet but ended up two-putting for a bogey.

He teed off on the par-three third but his ball landed on the lip off the green and after a slight hesitation it rolled about 40 feet downhill giving him a long chip to the green. His first putt from 10 feet missed just left and he had to settle for another bogey.

He bogeyed two of the holes and parred the other two through the difficult par-four stretch to get him to four over on the day and seven over for the tournament.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Mickelson expects 'sharp' Woods at Masters

LOS ANGELES -- Three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson isn't surprised that Tiger Woods will tee it up at the Masters next week -- and he thinks the four-time winner will be ready.

"That's a tough tournament to miss," Mickelson said of the first major championship of the season in the lush confines of Augusta National.

"I just don't think anybody would miss it if they were in it, if they were physically able to play," Mickelson said at the Houston Open on Friday, after Woods confirmed he would end his self-imposed layoff from tournament golf.

He hasn't played in a tournament since withdrawing at Torrey Pines on February 5 with back pain.

That followed a dismal showing at the Phoenix Open, and the 14-time major champion announced the following week that he was taking an indefinite break until he could improve his game to a competitive level.

Pundits have pointed to the glaring weaknesses displayed this season in Woods' once-mighty short game as making Woods an unlikely contender.

But Mickelson, who has endured struggles of his own this year, believes Woods has had enough time to sort things out.

"He's had such a good short game and such a great game throughout his career, I think it's going to be an easy fix," Mickelson said. "I think his game will be sharp."

Woods' decision to play the Masters, revealed on his website and in a Twitter posting by the 14-time major champion, sparked immediate reaction on social media.

"@TheMasters isn't the same without @TigerWoods," tweeted fellow pro Bill Horschel. "Glad to see him back playing again. Going to be an electrifying week as always! #cantwait"

"Was it ever really in doubt," tweeted England's Ian Poulter. "Best show on earth just got better."

The news even caught the eye of Olympic swimming superstar Michael Phelps.

"Pumped to watch @TigerWoods at the masters," the 18-time Olympic gold medallist tweeted.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

English takes charge as Mickelson exits Torrey Pines

LA JOLLA - Local favourite Phil Mickelson has joined Tiger Woods as a weekend casualty as the five-time major winner failed to make the cut at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines on Friday.

Mickelson backed up his 74 on the South course from round one with an even-par 72 on the easier North Course on Friday to be left at two-over and headed for the exit door Woods went through on Thursday with a back injury.

The San Diego native was 12 shots off the pace of fellow American Harris English, who put together a six-under 66 on the North course to push out to 10-under 134 and a two-shot lead late in the second round.

"I take a lot of positives from today. I hit the ball well, made some really good putts and hit some good wedge shots," English said.

He is bogey free through two rounds, the first time a player has accomplished the feat at the tournament in four years.

"I was very excited about that yesterday," Harris said. "Especially coming out this morning and having to finish some holes (from the first round) kind of in the cold and it's good to make some of those six-footers coming out for par."

American Nick Watney put together a 65 on the North and Venezuelan Jhonattan Vegas a solid 69 to move to eight-under and a share of second with Briton Martin Laird (68).

But for Mickelson it was a day to forget with two bogeys in his first five holes.

He pegged them back with back-to-back birdies on the 16th and 17th, his seventh and eighth holes, and gave fans hope with a birdie on the second, his 11th.

But he played the last seven holes one over, joining Woods, world number five Justin Rose, the returning Dustin Johnson, Luke Donald and Jordan Spieth as high profile casualties.

"It's very frustrating for me right now," Mickelson said. "I felt really ready to start the year and these first few weeks have been very poor.

"I feel like I'm hitting the ball tee to green quite well, really well, but my putting is beyond pathetic and if I can't get back to the levels of 2013, I'm not sure what I'm going to do, because this is very frustrating."

Johnson, who spent six-months on a voluntary leave of absence for personal rehabilitation, missed the cut by a shot.

"I was just a little bit off but I still played pretty well," Johnson said.

"I had a lots of putts that could have gone in, but didn't. But I hung in there and fought pretty hard. Just a little rusty that's all." (Editing by Gene Cherry/Nick Mulvenney)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com