Mickelson's start better than Woods' in Western



Joe Ogilvie, Lucas Glover, Daniel Chopra and David McKenzie were tied for first.
LEMONT, Ill. (AP) -- Phil Mickelson shot 4-under 67 in the first round of the Western Open on Thursday, trying to rebound from his U.S. Open collapse. Tiger Woods wasn't as fortunate.
While Mickelson was one shot out of the lead, Woods struggled to a 1-over 72 in his first tournament since missing the cut at the U.S. Open last month.
Joe Ogilvie, Lucas Glover, Daniel Chopra and David McKenzie were tied for first after shooting 66 on the 7,326-yard course at Cog Hill. Davis Love III and Vijay Singh joined Mickelson one back. Charles Warren, Stephen Leaney and Robert Allenby were also at 4 under.
Bogey-bogey start
Mickelson, starting from the 10th tee, bogeyed his first two holes but ended his round with an eagle on No. 9.
"I bogeyed the first few holes, but I knew I was hitting the ball well," he said. "I hit some good shots coming in to make some birdies and turned at even, and then my last nine holes I was able to make a couple of birdies. It was a fun round today."
It ended in spectacular fashion on his last hole, rather than a spectacular meltdown.
Mickelson, who double-bogeyed the final hole at the U.S. Open in Mamaroneck, N.Y., to drop from first to a three-way tie for second, sent a tee shot to the middle of the fairway. Then, he drove a 4-wood that rolled past the lip of the cup and stopped about 5 feet beyond the hole 271 yards away. He made the putt.
"I was just trying to get on the green and the ball ended up rolling by the pin," Mickelson said.
Woods has struggled, too.
He took nine weeks off between the Masters and U.S. Open to tend to his ailing father, who died in May, and went a month without picking up a club.
Although he thought he was prepared for the U.S. Open, the rust showed immediately. At 12-over, he failed to make the cut in a major for the first time in 10 years as a professional.
Relief at end
Woods ended Thursday's round with a birdie. His approach shot landed a few feet beyond the hole, rolled past the cup and settled on the edge of the green, about 10 feet from the hole. An easy putt ended a frustrating day.
Woods' tee shot from the par-5 15th sailed wide right into bushes, so he hit a provisional. When the original ball was located, Woods declared it unplayable and went back for a third tee shot.
By then, he was on his way to a second straight bogey.
"I hit a terrible tee shot," said Woods, a three-time winner at Cog Hill. "I hit a couple shots left and that one wasn't going left."
He lamented "beautiful" putts early on that sailed right over the edge of the hole.
"My distance control wasn't very good, my direction wasn't very good," Woods said. "I hit the driver halfway decent today. [I] just didn't take advantage of my irons when I had the opportunity."
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