American Mickelson fires Pebble Beach course record

0 Comments | AFP, February, 2005

PEBBLE BEACH, United States (AFP) — American Phil Mickelson shattered the course record with a 10-under-par 62 to grab a three-shot lead after the opening round of the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

Mickelson, who is the 1998 Pebble Beach champ, had what was expected to be the daunting task of playing the Spyglass Hill course. He was competing at the toughest of the three venues the 5.3 million dollar PGA tournament is using.

Mickelson picked up where he left off last week, when he won the FBR Open by five strokes. It was his first victory since the 2004 Masters.

He posted seven birdies on his first 11 holes. He birdied the first two holes, the four of five beginning at No. 4.

On the back nine, Mickelson had a birdie at No. 14 and two to close his...