For the second time this year, Phil Mickelson flirted with 59

On Friday at the Deutsche Bank Championship, Phil Mickelson was in a rare spot in his group, being the third player that most thought would have a chance to take home this trophy.

Playing with Adam Scott, who won last week at the Barclays, and Tiger Woods, who finished second, it was Mickelson who was coming in playing the worst of the three, but that all changed when he teed off on his first hole at TPC Boston.

Mickelson birdied seven holes on his opening nine holes, posting a 7-under 28 and getting a lot of people chattering about another shot at a sub-60 round in 2013 for the long-hitting lefty.

Earlier this season, Mickelson had a putt for 59 at the Waste Management Open and while the putt looked perfect, it was an angry lip-out that kept the five-time major champion out of the elite sub-60 club.

The magic might have stalled after a bogey on his 10th hole, but he came to the par-5 second and hit a 6-iron that was nearly perfect. Mickelson’s approach never left the flag, landing soft and nearly going in for the double-eagle, eventually leading to an eagle and making up for the bogey he suffered on the previous hole.

The British Open champion’s luck ran out after that, but he still posted a round of 63, a number that has been kind to Phil in the past.

Four previous times in the last decade, Phil Mickelson opened a @PGATOUR event with 63 or better. Went on to win all 4 times.

— Justin Ray (@JRayESPNGolf) August 30, 2013

Mickelson is atop the leaderboard in Boston and took it to his playing partners with Woods posting a round of 68 and Scott struggling with a round of 2-over 73.

Devil Ball Golf – Golf – Yahoo! Sports