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#### Mickelson shoots 69, then takes shot at course setup

The four-time major champion put himself near the top of the leaderboard on Thursday.

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# Mickelson shoots 69, then takes shot at course setup

USA TODAY Sports 12:21 p.m. EDT July 18, 2013

Phil Mickelson eyes his tee shot at the sixth hole during the first round of the 2013 Open Championship at Muirfield Golf Club.(Photo: Paul Cunningham, USA TODAY Sports)

### Story Highlights

- Phil Mickelson opened Thursday with a 2-under 69
- He is coming off a victory last week in the Scottish Open
- Rory McIlroy opened with an 8-over 79

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GULLANE, Scotland — Phil Mickelson arrived at Muirfield for the 142nd British Open with confidence, following a victory last week at the Scottish Open.

One round in, Mickelson is right where he wants to be. But, despite putting himself in contention with a 2-under 69, Mickelson didn't seem all that happy.

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The four-time major champ was at 3 under before a bogey at 18, leaving him three shots behind behind clubhouse leader Zach Johnson (5-under 66).

Rafael Cabrerea-Bello of Spain shot 67. Miguel Angel Jimenez , Dustin Johnson and Brandt Snedeker were in with 3-under 68s.

"I got really lucky (tee time) because I think the R&A was really worried about the scores going too low and there are some really funky pin placements," Mickelson sayd. "They used some funny spots and about one third of every green has just died it's so brown. I hit two perfect shots on 18, left it in the exact spot I wanted to leave it and I just kind of lagged it still went way by. I got really lucky to play early because I at least had a fighting chance.

"As I played more on links golf I realized that angles were the most important part of playing links golf. I was always able to take angles out of play in America by playing over the trouble and getting it to stop. 60-degree wedge. Links golf required more of a thought process. It took me a while to really learn it and appreciate it.

"I don't see anyone in the afternoon with a realistic chance (shooting low). It's a little overdone. I feel bad for these guys who have to go out and play it. There is a distinct disadvantage. Luck is always a factor but it this shouldn't have been a factor. The weather didn't come here. It's fine, its just the way it was presented."

Muirfield has been firm and fast since the weekend, with dry conditions in the forecast for the rest of the week. The R&A was turning on sprinklers for a brief time in the evening to keep the speed of the course from getting out of control.

R&A chief executive Peter Dawson saw no problem with the course.

"We have the conditions here we really like to have — hard, fast, running conditions — and we've set up the course to test the players' course management strategy as much as anything," Dawson said on the BBC. "It is part of the links courses defenses in this type of weather."

Johnson said he was "shocked with a couple of pin placements," citing Nos. 13 and 17.

"The fairways are rolling just as fast as the greens," Johnson said. "Two-putting from essentially 15 feet and beyond, it's got your attention."

Ian Poulter (72) sounded off on Twitter: "Unfortunately the guys this afternoon will struggle with a few pin positions. 8th hole is a joke, 18th needs a windmill & clown face."

The struggles continued for Rory McIlroy, who played with Mickelson. He opened with an 8-over 79.

GALLERY: THURSDAY AT THE BRITISH OPEN

A grandstand at Muirfield. Paul Cunningham USA TODAY Sports
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A directional sign during the first round of the 2013 The Open Championship at Muirfield Golf Club. Paul Cunningham USA TODAY Sports
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Matthew Fitzpatrick of England plays out of the rough on the 10th hole Matt Dunham AP
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Tiger Woods reacts on the 5th green during the first round of the 2013 The Open Championship at Muirfield Golf Club. Paul Cunningham USA TODAY Sports
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Tiger Woods hits his tee shot at the 6th hole during the first round of the 2013 The Open Championship at Muirfield Golf Club. Paul Cunningham USA TODAY Sports
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Ernie Els hits from the 2nd fairway during the first round for the 2013 The Open Championship at Muirfield Golf Club. Leo Mason USA TODAY Sports
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Mark O'Meara hits from the rough on the 11 hole during the first round of the 2013 The Open Championship at Muirfield Golf Club. Paul Cunningham USA TODAY Sports
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Mark O'Meara at the 11th green during the first round of the 2013 The Open Championship at Muirfield Golf Club. Paul Cunningham USA TODAY Sports
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Nick Faldo on the 2nd fairway during the first round for the 2013 The Open Championship at Muirfield Golf Club. Leo Mason USA TODAY Sports
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Tiger Woods lines a putt on the second green. Peter Muhly AFP/Getty Images
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Tiger Woods prepares to play from the first tee. Peter Muhly AFP/Getty Images
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Tiger Woods lines up a putt on the 2nd green. Andy Lyons Getty Images
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Rickie Fowler tees off on the 5th tee. Rob Carr Getty Images
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Tiger Woods tees off on the 4th hole during the first round of the British Open. Rob Carr Getty Images
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Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia look at the second green during the first round of the British Open Golf Championship at Muirfield, Scotland. Matt Dunham AP
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A spectator watches the play through binoculars during the first round of the British Open Golf Championship at Muirfield, Scotland. Scott Heppell AP
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Fred Couples on the 2nd fairway during the first round for the 2013 The Open Championship at Muirfield Golf Club. Leo Mason USA TODAY Sports
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Tiger Woods hits out of the rough on the 1st hole. Andrew Redington Getty Images
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Tiger Woods drops his ball on the 1st hole during the first round. He bogeyed the hole after taking an unplayable lie. Andrew Redington Getty Images
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Tiger Woods hit his first shot into the deep rough at Muirfield and had to take an unplayable lie. He ended up with just bogey though. Andrew Redington Getty Images
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Stewart Cink hits out of a bunker at the 7th hole during the first round of the 2013 The Open Championship at Muirfield Golf Club. Paul Cunningham USA TODAY Sports
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Justin Rose reacts on the 3rd green during the first round for the 2013 The Open Championship at Muirfield Golf Club. Leo Mason USA TODAY Sports
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Graham Delaet hits his tee shot at the 6th hole during the first round of the 2013 The Open Championship at Muirfield Golf Club. Paul Cunningham USA TODAY Sports
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Rory Mcilroy hits out of a bunker at the 5th green during the first round of the 2013 The Open Championship at Muirfield Golf Club. Paul Cunningham USA TODAY Sports
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Justin Rose on the 5th tee during the first round for the 2013 The Open Championship at Muirfield Golf Club. Leo Mason USA TODAY Sports
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Brandt Snedeker on the 5th tee during the first round for the 2013 The Open Championship at Muirfield Golf Club. Leo Mason USA TODAY Sports
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Ian Poulter at the 5th green during the first round of the 2013 The Open Championship at Muirfield Golf Club. Paul Cunningham USA TODAY Sports
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Rory McIlroy on the 5th tee during the first round for the 2013 The Open Championship at Muirfield Golf Club. Leo Mason USA TODAY Sports
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Billy Horschel on the 5th tee during the first round for the 2013 The Open Championship at Muirfield Golf Club. Leo Mason USA TODAY Sports
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Rafael Cabrera-Bello at the 11th green during the first round of the 2013 The Open Championship at Muirfield Golf Club. Paul Cunningham USA TODAY Sports
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Ernie Els on the 3rd tee during the first round for the 2013 The Open Championship at Muirfield Golf Club. Leo Mason USA TODAY Sports
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Phil Mickelson walks up to the green during the first round of the 2013 The Open Championship at Muirfield Golf Club. Paul Cunningham USA TODAY Sports
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Miguel Angel Jimenez at the 11th green during the first round of the 2013 The Open Championship at Muirfield Golf Club. Paul Cunningham USA TODAY Sports
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Ernie Els at the 5th green during the first round of the 2013 The Open Championship at Muirfield Golf Club. Paul Cunningham USA TODAY Sports
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Rafael Cabrera-Bello of Spain on the 18th hole during the first round of the 142nd Open Championship at Muirfield. Rob Carr Getty Images
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Rory McIlroy hits on No. 4 at Muirfield during the opening round of the British Open. Matthew Lewis Getty Images
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Brandt Snedeker tees off on the fourth hole at Muirfield. Adrian Dennis AFP/Getty Images
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Billy Horschel tees off on the fourth hole at Muirfield. Adrian Dennis AFP/Getty Images
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Phil Mickelson hits from the rough on the fifth hole. Matthew Lewis Getty Images
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Justin Rose and caddie Mark Fulcher discuss a shot during the first round of the British Open. Jon Super AP
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Rory McIlroy hits out of a bunker on the 5th hole. Matthew Lewis Getty Images
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Miguel Angel Jimenez putts on the 11th green. Jon Super AP
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Justin Rose of England applies sunscreen during his opening round of the British Open. Jon Super AP
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England's Nick Faldo plays a shot out of a bunker at Muirfield. Adrian Dennis AFP/Getty Images
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Phil Mickelson tees off on the 2nd hole. Matthew Lewis Getty Images
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Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland hits out of a bunker at Muirfield. Matthew Lewis Getty Images
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Spectators follow the game from the fourth tee at Muirfield. Glyn Kirk AFP/Getty Images
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Sir Nick Faldo of England looks along the fairway at Muirfield on Thursday. Andy Lyons Getty Images
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Ian Poulter lines up a putt on the 1st hole. Matthew Lewis Getty Images
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Tom Watson gestures as he walks off the third tee box. Matt Dunham AP
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Fred Couples lines up his putt on the second green. Matt Dunham AP
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Jonas Blixt of Sweden tees off on the second hole during the first round of the British Open Matthew Lewis Getty Images
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A club cover on the Ping bag of Bubba Watson. Andrew Redington Getty Images
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Phil Mickelson chips onto the green on the 1st hole at Muirfield. Matthew Lewis Getty Images
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Spain's Rafael Cabrera-Bello lines his putt on the second green with his caddie Michael Battie. Peter Muhly AFP/Getty Images
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