Mickelson hanging around after 71
DORAL, Fla. -- He smiled, waved, tossed golf balls to kids and did the usual things that make Phil Mickelson one of the game's most popular players.
If his golf seemed a bit indifferent Thursday it could certainly be explained away due to various factors that have always been maddening as it applies to Mickelson's up-and-down game.
But Mickelson did not arrive here at Doral until late Wednesday night, foregoing a practice round for the WGC-CA Championship that he captured a year ago.
If that seems like Phil being Phil, perhaps it is.
Then again, maybe there is more to it.
Mickelson acknowledged that he had a planned trip to Houston last week, where his wife, Amy, has gone for treatments at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.
Lefty downplayed it after shooting 1-under-par 71 in the opening round on Doral's Blue Monster course. But he acknowledged not working much on his game since the Phoenix Open two weeks ago and only hooked up with his swing instructor, Butch Harmon, before the round, getting up early for some putting practice and work on the range.
"I think his main priority is at home with his wife," Harmon said. "And I think that's where he should be. I think it's more than a distraction. It's a concern.
"Any time a member of your family has an illness or something wrong with them, it's definitely something that concerns you. This game is hard enough when you're completely into it."
CA Championship
1. Schwartzel (-5)
T-2. Allenby (-4)
T-2. Singh (-4)
T-2. Els (-4)
Mickelson offered no details Thursday on Amy, who was diagnosed last May with breast cancer, causing Phil to take two breaks from the game and miss the British Open -- the first major championship he has skipped since 1994.
But he came back strong, winning the Tour Championship to finish second to Tiger Woods in the FedEx Cup standings. He then won another WGC event, the HSBC Champions in China, and buoyed by putting tips from two-time major champion Dave Stockton, was poised for a big start to the year.
Both Mickelson and Harmon spoke glowingly at the beginning of the season, as Lefty, 39, sought to build on his 37 PGA Tour titles and three major championships.
"He's extremely anxious to get going," Harmon said in January. "This could be his best year ever and he's looking forward to it. Sure, it puts pressure on him, but I haven't seen him this excited to start the year."
So far, it hasn't happened, and Harmon's hints Thursday that Mickelson is concerned about his wife are not to be dismissed.
In four previous events, Mickelson's best finish was a tie for eighth at Pebble Beach, where he was never in contention.
"I didn't get off to the start on the West Coast that I would like," Mickelson said. "I'm ready to play. I know that although I didn't have the greatest start, I hit the ball very well on the West Coast. The key for me was putting and so when I did have time last week, I spent it on putting.
"I had the best putting day today that I've had all year."
And he needed it. Mickelson put two drivers in his bag -- a tactic he employed successfully when he won the 2006 Masters -- but neither one was very good at finding fairways.
He hit just three of them on a windy day at Doral, but managed to hit 10 of 18 greens and needed just 26 putts. Mickelson had several good par saves and hung on just well enough to stay within four shots of tournament leader Charl Schwartzel -- although Lefty stands tied for 17th.
"I'm happy with 71," he said. "I know it's not in contention yet, but my goal was to shoot something as solid as I did today, and improve on it each day. So I have to go lower each day."
When asked about Amy, Mickelson said only, "She's doing good. Thank you."
He was evasive when talking about the trip to Houston and preferred to keep the subject on golf.
That is fair enough, even if perhaps Mickelson's mind is not always on the same subject.
Bob Harig covers golf for ESPN.com. He can be reached at BobHarig@gmail.com.
