Tiger is there, but Mickelson gets roars

Radiating with confidence, Phil Mickelson practically strutted off the Blue Monster on Thursday in the first round of the CA Championship.

“Lefty” could barely contain his excitement over the state of his game.

With a seven-under-par 65, Mickelson managed to do something more impressive than take a share of the early lead with Retief Goosen, Jeev Milkha Singh and Prayad Marksaeng.

He stole the spotlight in Tiger Woods’ first stroke-play tournament in nine months, igniting roars with a six-birdie blitz on the back nine, including three straight birdies to close his round.

Mickelson built himself a six-shot lead on Woods, whose 71 was good for a tie for 40th.

When Mickelson wasn’t overpowering the course with one monster drive after another, he was showing off his famed short game, chipping in three times.

“I felt going into this tournament that I was playing as well as I ever have,” said Mickelson, 38, who won the Northern Trust Open three weeks ago. “From 50 yards in, my short game has never been this good, and I’ve never driven the ball this long and this straight without fear of a big miss.

“My iron play is better than it’s been in quite some time,” Mickelson said. “And I expect that to improve as the week goes on. I’m excited about the next three rounds.”

Woods, on the other hand, bottled up the frustrations that come with working off the rust of a long layoff because of injury.

“A lot of tap-in pars today,” he said.

Woods made three birdies and two bogeys in his first stroke-play tournament since winning the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines last June. He made his return to competition after reconstructive left knee surgery two weeks ago at the Accenture Match Play Championship, where he was eliminated in the second round.

“It was a little bit frustrating on those greens today,” Woods said. “I hit so many putts that looked good.” Woods took 28 putts but lamented failing to convert birdie chances.

“If you go over the round, the putts I lipped out, those putts lip in, that’s four or five under par right there, no problem,” Woods said. “So it was not like I played poorly and shot 71. I played well and just didn’t make putts.”

Ireland’s Padraig Harrington, winner of the last two majors and three of the last six, looks to be finding his best form. He’s among four players one shot back.

Colombia’s Camilo Villegas and Argentina’s Andres Romero are in a pack of five players two back.

Americans Jim Furyk and Charley Hoffman and Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy are three behind.

Mickelson’s short game wizardry was on display at the fourth, 17th and 18th holes.

After pulling his tee shot left in the water at No. 4, Mickelson chipped in from 50 feet for par. He did this after rinsing his approach at No. 3 and making double bogey. He closed his round chipping in from 25 feet for birdie at the 17th and from 36 feet for birdie at the 18th.

Mickelson needed just eight putts on the back nine, the third fewest in PGA Tour history. Stan Utley set the record with six putts on the front nine of the second round of the 2002 Air Canada Championship.

“I can’t wait to get on the course” today, Mickelson said.

That’s because Mickelson can’t wait to pound his driver with impunity again. “I’m just teeing it high and ripping it,” Mickelson said. “I’ve just been following that motto.”

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rmell@sunsentinel.com