Henley starts fast at THE NORTHERN TRUSTHenley starts fast at THE NORTHERN TRUST
OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. – News and notes from Thursday’s first round of THE NORTHERN TRUST, the opening event of the FedExCup Playoffs. Russell Henley has the clubhouse lead after an opening 6-under 64. PHIL BEGINS HIS AUDITION Phil Mickelson teed off Thursday with eight rounds to make a good impression on U.S. Presidents Cup Captain Steve Stricker. A 2-over 72, on the surface, doesn’t seem a score he could point to as proof his game is coming around. But Mickelson was happy that he hit 11 of 14 fairways and “hitting iron shots with ease.� His confidence level appeared much different than two weeks ago, when he missed the cut for the first time in 22 starts at the PGA Championship, admitting afterwards he had lost focus. “I’m going to have a good week,� Mickelson insisted Thursday. “I know that it’s not the greatest start, but it’s not bad, either.� He needs a good week. Ranked 18th on the U.S. team list, it’s unlikely Mickelson will move into the top 10 that earn automatic spots after next week’s Dell Technologies Championship. But two good weeks could convince Stricker to make him a captain’s pick and extend his streak of Presidents Cup appearances. He’s played in every one since the event’s debut in 1994. “I would love to be on that team, but I’ve got to bring something to the table,� Mickelson said. “… I’m very optimistic on the way I’m playing, but the scores are not reflecting that yet.� Stricker has indicated he would ask Mickelson for an honest assessment of his game before making the captain’s picks. Mickelson promised he “will be� honest. After missing the cut in the last two majors and posting only one top-10 in his last 11 starts, Mickelson now sees positive signs. “I feel like my game’s coming around,� he said. “I hope it’s in time to make the team.� UNDER THE RADAR Two years ago, Jason Day started the Playoffs ranked No. 2 in points. A year ago, he was No. 1. This week, he starts off 49th. It’s his lowest starting point in the last five seasons. It’s the reason he had no pre-tournament media obligations, and that his tee time was earlier-than-usual on Thursday. He was also a sponsor’s pick for Wednesday’s Pro-Am instead of having one of the spots reserved for players higher up in the FedExCup standings. “I’m like, whoa, what’s going on here?� Day said with a laugh. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been one of those.� Ranked ninth in the world, Day said he’s flying under the radar this week. He doesn’t mind it, and his 1-under 69 on Thursday leaves him well-positioned to make a move in the next three rounds. But he understands why he’s not in heavy demand at Glen Oaks. “It’s humbling being in a position like this because I know I’ve had it good for a long time,� Day said. “Through some poor play this year, I haven’t been in the position that I would like to be, and humbling as in I need to work a lot harder than what I’m doing right now.� BAD TURNS TO GOOD In Russell Henley’s last two starts, he finished T-66 and T-71. Outside of his five missed cuts, those are the worst results he’s had all season. His explanation was a simple one. “My attitude was just bad,� he said. His 12-over performance in his last start at the PGA Championship left him frustrated. He also felt tired, as he’s still trying to figure out the balance between practice and rest. But now the Playoffs are here, and he feels energized. Entering Glen Oaks 19th in points (thanks mostly to his Shell Houston Open win), Henley needs simply to maintain his position through the first three events in order to advance to the TOUR Championship for the second time in his career. Unfamiliar with the course, he took a conservative approach Thursday and it paid off. The 64, which included eight birdies, was just his third round in red numbers in his last 13 rounds on TOUR, and matches his second-lowest score of the year. Will he maintain his conservative play the next three days? He’s not sure. “I don’t know if that’s necessarily the way to do it,� he said. Seems like it was certainly the way to do it Thursday. QUOTE OF THE DAY I don’t think they were quite sure they were going to play No. 1 as a par 4 or 5 yet, so I played it as a par-5 when I came – which I liked a lot better. ODDS AND ENDS Glen Oaks was playing to favorable reviews in its first competitive round as a PGA TOUR course. Superintendent Craig Currier was at the players’ entrance to the clubhouse, seeking opinions and suggestions from the pros. He was hearing lots of good things. Consider this from Patrick Cantlay after his 3-under 67: “I think the golf course is great. It rewards really good shots and penalizes mediocre ones.� … Justin Thomas, in his first round since winning the PGA Championship, was 2 over through his first eight holes and finding it difficult to get focused. He turned to his caddie Jimmy Johnson and said, “I’m having a hard time with this today and I need your help.� A 24-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole – his ninth of the day – got him back on track, as he rallied to shoot a 2-under 68. “I’m more proud of rounds like today than I am when I play really well,� Thomas said. … Thomas’ good friend Jordan Spieth burned several edges with his putts en route to a 1-under 69. “I burned high lip, low lip, left lip, right lip today for most of the round,� Spieth said. “Felt like a 4- or 5-under round.� … After shooting a 4-over 74, FedExCup points leader Hideki Matsuyama spent time on the practice green. He needed 33 putts on his round, connecting on just two putts outside 8 feet.
