Inside Phil Mickelson’s roller coaster first round return at the Masters

It’s 11:55 a.m. at Augusta National and no one is chatting with Phil Mickelson.

The three-time Masters champ lines up drives on the far left side of the practice range. The only people within a few feet of him are his caddie/brother, Tim, and swing coach Andrew Getson.

Mickelson, 52, is noticeably slimmer. He says he’s lost 25 pounds by “not eating.” (A joke. Phil likes jokes). But donning a black polo and ballcap with his LIV Golf team’s logo affixed to each and a pair of aviators shrouding his eyes, the six-time major winner looks a white cat in his lap short of a James Bond villain.

“It’s great. It’s fun to be back,” Mickelson said Tuesday following a practice round. “Everyone has been wonderful.”

Mickelson has been through hell and back publicly over the past two years, mostly from his own doing. That comes with taking a reported $200 million deal to work with the Saudi Arabian government and its long list of human rights abuses in helping build LIV Golf.

But for the first time in two years, Mickelson returned to Augusta National on Thursday for a competitive round of golf. That’s, well, something.

Mickelson skipped the 2022 event amid controversy over comments he made about the Saudi-backers of LIV, a league that’s created a massive crack in the foundation of the sport.

These days, it’s almost impossible to separate Mickelson from his decision-making, or lack thereof, in recent years. It’s why his return to Augusta National, a place he cherishes, feels like a bizzarro fantasy world.

Leaving the practice green for the first tee, a girl no older than 10 ran to the gate to try and reach Mickelson before he was whisked away on a cart. She was too late, but Mickelson sees her.

“Hey!” he says, his million dollar smile flashing across his newly slim face. “Air knuck.” Mickelson fist bumps in her direction. The girl mimics his move. Consider that one fan excited for his return.

That Mickelson is back at Augusta feels parts fresh and strange. Walking along the ropes on Thursday, his wife, Amy, was tapped by a local security guard behind the seventh green. Her credential badge wasn’t showing. A cardinal sin on these grounds.

“Rookie mistake,” Amy quipped to the guard. “It’s only my 30th one of these.”

There are pockets of Augusta National on Thursday that adore Mickelson. His play ocassionally helps that fact — brief reminders of a past champion in a another life without current issues that make him among the most polarizing players in the sport.

Sending his second tee shot into the pine straw on the right side of the second hole, Mickelson scoped out the damage. He had a window, but had to keep it low. So, naturally, Mickelson snagged his driver, smacked the ball off the loose ground and set himself up for a chip and eventual birdie.

Need more wizardry? Mickelson sprayed his drive on the par-4 14th up to the base of a tree. The left-hander had no way to hit his ball naturally. So, as one does, he flipped over an 8-iron, swung right-handed and blasted his ball short of the left side of the green.

That flare. That inventiveness. That absurd shot-making ability. That’s all what made Mickelson so talented — and beloved — during his pre-LIV front-man days.

“I thought it was great,” a noticeably reticent Mickelson said when asked about how fans reacted to his presence on Thursday. “It’s been great all week.”

Mickelson didn’t exactly come to the Masters in form. He finished 41st, 32nd and 27th in his past three LIV Golf outings. He was under par at the end of his three rounds once. That’s against significantly less-talented fields than the one he faces this week and on courses that barely deserve mention alongside a place like Augusta National.

Looking to muster whatever he could on Thursday, Mickelson spotted Amy for the first time along the ropes between the seventh green and eighth tee box.

“I need some luck, Amy,” he said. They embraced, tightly, and traded a quick kiss. “I love you so much,” Mickelson whispered into Amy’s ear.

Perhaps that’s all he needed. Mickelson birded four of his next five holes.

But like anything involving Mickelson the last few years — and really ever — the roller coaster whirred. He put balls in the water on holes 11 and 16. He bogeyed 14, his wild right-handed swing aside.

Mickelson hit 12 of 18 greens on Thursday and earned three eagle putts. He misfired on each of those chances. “This is the issue I’ve been dealing with,” Mickelson said. “I’ll make two swings and it costs me four shots on 11 and 16.”

A boy no older than the girl who air fist-bumped Mickelson earlier in the day sat in the chairbacks just off the front right side of the green. He begged his parents to let him stay to watch Mickelson hit his tee shot on 16 before heading toward the clubhouse. They obliged.

Mickelson’s ball plunged into the water. The boy dipped out of the seats and toward the seventh tee box. “Phil sucks,” he said.

This is the reception Mickelson gets in spurts throughout his four-plus hour round on Thursday. There are pockets of fans that cheer, thrilled to see the one-time pseudo-thorn in Tiger Woods’ side club twirling around golf’s most famous venue. Others, well, less so.

On a topsy-turvy 1-under 71 outing that felt like it should’ve been closer to a 65, the past Masters champ faced his new reality. One in which fans aren’t really sure how to respond to his presence.

“Psshhhh, stay on the LIV Tour,” snickered a patron under his breath as Mickelson left a manageable birdie putt high of the hole on the par-3 4th.

Five hours before Mickelson teed off, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson began the day with their honorary drives down the first fairway. Of that trio, only Nicklaus has won more green jackets than Mickelson (Nicklaus’ six Masters titles are more than anyone).

In the pre-LIV Golf world, Mickelson — the ultimate vibes guy — felt like a potential honorary starter down the line. If that wasn’t a fit, perhaps he’d have instead served as the emcee for the Champions Dinner whenever 71-year-old Ben Crenshaw decided to pass on that honor. Mickelson does love himself a party.

But those ideas feel fleeting.

Mickelson was his cheery, effervescent self on Thursday post-round. He expounded on his weight loss and smiled when asked what it felt like to be on the first tee again.

Believe it or not, Mickelson wanted to talk about his up-and-down, but semi-inspiring round. His podium session lasted an abnormally long 10 minutes and 33 seconds. A handful of patrons lining the gates near the interview area were interested. The rest headed for the exits.

Welcome to the 2023 Masters, Phil Mickelson. I guess we’re kinda sorta, maybe happy to see you?