Phil Mickelson rolled back the years on the first day of The Open after he carded a one-under 70 at Royal Portrush on Thursday.
Six-time major winner Mickelson, who lifted the Claret Jug at Muirfield in 2013, briefly threatened the top of the early leaderboard with a flurry of impressive shots.
After a birdie on the par-five second hole, the American then holed a miraculous bunker shot for par on the third, having found the sand with a wayward strike, and later gained another shot with a birdie on the seventh.
Mickelson registered two bogeys on the back nine but was able to sink a long putt on the penultimate hole to add another birdie to his scorecard.
Indeed, it was his best opening round at The Open since 2016, and Mickelson expressed his delight at adapting his style to the sport across his career.
"I think winning The Open in 2013 was the greatest accomplishment in my career because I had to learn a style of golf that I didn't grow up playing," Mickelson said.
"Now I've come to really love it, enjoy it, and I seem to play well in some of the adverse conditions."
Mickelson and his playing partners were able to dodge the worst of the weather on Thursday, but it is likely to find them at some point on Friday or beyond.
The 55-year-old plays on the LIV Golf Tour, and has missed five cuts in his last seven Open appearances, but says he still loves the challenge thrown up by British links courses.
"When you get conditions like this, you start to fall back on realising that 60, 80 feet in the proper spot is like a good spot, and you start to realise that you can make 20- or 30-footers out here," Mickelson said.
"You find that going back on past experiences, you don't have to press it. You don't have to force it.
"I played really well, and I had an opportunity. Like I really enjoy playing these conditions and playing this tournament. It's just a lot of fun."
