Watch Phil Mickelson hit an awesome shot off a cart path [Video]

Phil Mickelson has been known for taking risks with golf shots, and getting rewarded as often as penalized for his creative play.

During the first round of the Scottish Open on Thursday at Royal Aberdeen, Mickelson hit his drive at relatively short par-four, 436-yard 13th hole onto a cart path. Instead of taking relief, he decided to hit his approach shot from the path.

Mickelson, the defending champion, played the ball back in his stance and hit a pure shot, barely scraping the cart path with the club. The ball, of course, hit in the middle of the green, took one hop past the pin and settled in a nice position for a birdie putt.

Mickelson drained the putt too. Oddly, he missed a three-foot par putt on his final hole for his only bogey in a round of three-under 68.

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland is the first-round leader after a 64, which included him driving the green at No. 13 to set up a birdie.

Kristoffer Broberg of Sweden and Ricardo Gonzalez of Argentina are tied for second at 65, while Michael Hoey of Northern Ireland was fourth at 66 and Luke Donald of England was among four players tied at 67.