Phil Mickelson opened 2019 with a bang on Thursday, separating himself from the pack with a 12-under 60 at La Quinta Country Club. His career-low round to par gave him a nice cushion at the end of round one of the Desert Classic, but there are plenty of intriguing players that could chase him down.
Among that group is Aussie Curtis Luck, who won the 2016 US Amateur and held the No.1 overall amateur ranking in the world for a brief time before turning pro in April of 2017. The 22-year-old from Perth fired an eight-under 64 at La Quinta, which puts him four off Mickelson’s lead.
Luck’s still young PGA Tour career hasn’t gotten off to the hottest of starts, as he finished inside the top 10 just once in 16 career events. So far this season he’s missed four of five cuts, and finished T-50 in his only made cut at the Sanderson Farms. If his fortunes are going to change, an opening 64 in Palm Springs is a good way to start.
One behind Luck is Adam Hadwin, who finished second in this event in 2017, shooting a 59 at La Quinta in the process. On Thursday, he opened with a seven-under 65 on PGA West’s Stadium Course. In his last 13 rounds in the Desert Classic, Hadwin is 66-under.
“It’s too early to even think about that,” said Hadwin of his sparkling record in this tournament. “I mean, I’m five back after shooting 7-under.
“You expect it at these courses, they’re softer than they normally usually are and scores are going to be that much lower. So you’ve got three rounds, I basically have to shoot probably another three 7-unders to even have a chance. So keep doing that.”
Hadwin is tied for fourth with Trey Mullinax, Wyndham Clark and Martin Laird. Defending champion Jon Rahm is among a group of 10 players who are six back at six-under.
