Round 1: Waste Management Phoenix Open

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Rickie Fowler and Phil Mickelson had solid opening rounds at WM Phoenix.

By Fred Albers, PGATOUR.COM Correspondent

Phil on a roll:  Phil Mickelson called it one of his best putting rounds in the last two years. Is that damning with faint praise? In 2011, Mickelson ranked just 134th in Strokes Gained-Putting. In the opening round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open, he took just 24 putts while shooting 3-under 68. Phil’s putting touch was needed because he hit just nine greens, but I walked all 18 holes with Mickelson and it wasn’t just that he made putts, it was the ball’s rotation that was impressive. Phil’s putts came off the blade and immediately began turning over, the sign of a well-struck putt. If Mickelson tightens up his ballstriking, he could shoot a low number.

Rickie never forgets: Two years ago, Rickie Fowler had a chance to win this tournament but in the final round decided to lay up at the par-5 15th hole instead of going for the green. He made par and lost to Hunter Mahan. In Thursday’s opening round, presented with close to the same yardage as in 2010, Fowler went for the green and splashed it into the water. He took his drop and holed a 68-yard wedge for birdie. As Fowler walked to the green, he came up to me and said, "I guess that makes up for when I laid up here," then walked away smiling and laughing.
  
Whiplash Friday: The second round at the Waste Management Phoenix Open is known as "Whiplash Friday." There are so many people on the golf course and you see so many strange sights that players are constantly whipping their heads and asking "did you just see that?"

Antifreeze needed: Frost delays are always a problem at TPC Scottsdale. Even when the surrounding area has a temperature of 40 degrees, the golf course is six to eight degrees colder. It seems during construction, workers dug this course out of a natural bowl and cold air naturally settles over TPC Scottsdale creating a colder climate. The temperature differential is just enough to create a frost delay.

Fred Albers is a course reporter for SiriusXM PGA TOUR Radio and is inside the ropes this week at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. For more information on SiriusXM PGA TOUR Radio, click here.