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A18 SPORTS
Friday 17 January 2020
Mickelson struggles with driver in 2020 debut at La Quinta

By JOHN NICHOLSON fifth and sixth holes to get to
AP Sports Writer 3 under, then gave away
LA QUINTA, Calif. (AP) — two strokes on the par-4
Phil Mickelson drove so far eighth when he drove left
left on the par-4 ninth that into the water and hit his
he was in the rough behind third left of the green.
a tree all the way across "I've been working on kind
the adjacent first fairway. of a little low shot to get it in
While Lefty struggled off play and I hit it a few times
the tee Thursday at The today and I didn't hit it as
American Express in his first efficiently as I wanted to,
round of the year, the drive but the miss wasn't as bad
through two fairways actu- as some of my other drives,"
ally wasn't a big miss be- said Mickelson, the tourna-
cause he was trying to hit ment winner in 2002 and
into the first fairway to get 2004.
a better angle to the back Lefty birdied the par-5 11th
right pin. and 13th, holing out from
"Takes the water out of play the rough on 13 after failing
and I just have a much bet- to reach the green from
ter angle," said Mickelson, a left bunker. He made
the 49-year-old Hall of Fam- bogey on the par-4 17th,
er competing for the first missing a 7-footer after hit-
time since early November. Phil Mickelson hits from the third tee during the first round of The American Express golf tournament ting left into a bunker, and
"I actually pushed it a little at La Quinta Country Club on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020, in La Quinta, Calif. Associated Press closed with a par.
bit across and got a little "I feel like I'm ready to go
bit unlucky to be behind rusty, but it was a good expect to come out the 65. Fowler and Scheffler on a tear, like I'm excited
the tree, but I ended up first day." Grayson and Blair gates like I did firing, but opened at La Quinta, while to play," Mickelson said.
just chipping a little wedge shot 64 in sunny and mostly I'm comfortable around all Lebioda played PGA West's "Felt like 70 was the worst I
underneath it and getting calm conditions. Grayson three of these courses. ... I Jack Nicklaus Tournament could have shot. I'm going
it on." closed with a bogey on the love it out here in the des- Course. Fowler is playing to come out tomorrow and
He made a tap-in par there par-4 ninth on PGA West's ert." the event for the first time in get it going."
and shot a 2-under 70 at La Stadium Course, also the Blair had a bogey-free six years. Playing partner Tony Finau
Quinta Country Club to fall site of the final round in the round at La Quinta. "It's a good start," Fowler shot 69. At No. 15 in the
six strokes behind leaders pro-am event. "It was perfect today, said. "Obviously, you look at world, he's the top-ranked
Zac Blair and Murray Gray- "I've been here since Dec. course was in really good scores it's usually pretty low player in the field.
son. 30 working on the game shape," Blair said. "Drove out here, especially when Mickelson and Finau will
"I didn't score as I proba- and I feel like I probably it really well, made some you look at weather like play the Nicklaus Tourna-
bly could have or wanted am the most prepared of good putts. But it's a little this and the conditions of ment Course on Friday,
to, but I really had a good the field for all three cours- easier out here this week the courses. Conditions are then the adjacent Stadium
day," the first-year tourna- es," said Grayson, the 2017 right now than it was in Ha- perfect here at La Quinta. Course on Saturday.
ment host said. "It wasn't Barbasol Championship waii last week, so it's nice." Greens are about the best Defending champion
quite as sharp as I wanted winner. "Coming off of a Rickie Fowler, Scottie Schef- that we see all year." Adam Long opened with a
it to be, maybe a little bit long offseason you never fler and Hank Lebioda shot Mickelson birdied the par-5 69 at La Quinta.q

Sainz, Brabec poised to win

Dakar Rally with 1 stage to go

HARADH, Saudi Arabia add to his previous victo- Quintanilla speed away,
(AP) — At 57, Carlos Sainz ries in 2010 and 2018, all of and the Chilean held off
is poised to win a third Da- them with co-driver Lucas Matthias Walkner by nine
kar Rally after playing it Cruz. They have led since seconds to win his second
safe on the penultimate stage three. stage of this Dakar. Quin-
stage on Thursday. Al-Attiyah, the defending tanilla slashed Brabec’s
A day after grabbing a gi- champion 10 minutes be- overall lead by 12 min-
ant 18-minute gap on rivals hind overall, conceded utes down to 14, and that
Nasser Al-Attiyah and Ste- he was driving for second should still be plenty for
phane Peterhansel, Sainz place, only six seconds Brabec to win on Friday in
gave back eight minutes ahead of Peterhansel, the Qiddiya.
on the sandy 379-kilome- 13-time winner and team- “I rode defensively today. I
ter route from Shubaytah mate of Sainz. went at 70% to avoid push-
back to Haradh. “We gained some time, ing man and machine too
Peterhansel and Al-Atti- but not enough,” Peter- hard,” Brabec said. “I’m
yah dueled for more than hansel said. “Now, if Car- happy to be here, and
four hours before Peter- los can bring it home, it’ll now I’m mainly thinking
hansel prevailed by 10 be great for the team.” of getting over the finish
Driver Carlos Sainz, of Spain, drinks water during stage eleven seconds. American biker Ricky Bra- line. Tomorrow could be
of the Dakar Rally between Shubaytah and Haradth, Saudi Sainz was content to mini- bec is set to win his first Da- a great day, I just want
Arabia, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020. mize risks on stage 11 and kar at his fifth attempt. to keep this good vibe
Associated Press cruise home. He’s set to Brabec let main rival Pablo going.”q