Phil Mickelson Returns To Golf At CareerBuilder Challenge In California

Phil Mickelson returned to competitive golf at the CareerBuilder Challenge in La Quinta, California on Thursday, marking his first PGA Tour start since undergoing two sports hernia surgeries.

Phil Mickelson Returns To Golf At CareerBuilder Challenge In California

The 46-year-old five-time major winner played a practice round on Wednesday and confirmed afterwards that he was prepared for his 8:40 am tee time on Thursday at La Quinta Country Club.

“I feel good and I want to play,” said Mickelson, who’s also acting as the tournament’s ambassador this week. “I don’t know where my game is, but I figure the only way to find out is to play.”

Mickelson had surgery on Oct. 19– three days after tying for eighth in the season-opening Safeway Open– and again Dec. 12.

The Hall of Famer was scheduled to open Thursday morning at La Quinta Country Club, then head to PGA West to play the Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course on Friday, the Stadium Course on Saturday and, if he makes the final cut, the final round on Sunday.

Mickelson won the 2002 and 2004 events and tied for third last year. Winless since the 2013 British Open, the 42-time PGA Tour winner also plans to play the Farmers Insurance Open next week in his hometown of San Diego and the Waste Management Phoenix Open the following week.

Jason Dufner won the CareerBuilder Challenge last year.

“Possibly going to have some weather issues this week, which will make it a little bit more challenging,” Dufner said. “But just excited to be back, excited to be back playing again. Took some time off at the end of the year, so played a couple weeks in Hawaii.”

Patrick Reed is the top-ranked player in the field at No. 9. He won the tournament in 2014.

In 2014, he shot 63-63-63-71 to break the PGA Tour record for relation to par for the first 54 holes at 27 under and become the first player in tour history to open with three rounds of 63 or better.

LA QUINTA, CA – JANUARY 19: Phil Mickelson plays his shot from the second tee during the first round of the CareerBuilder Challenge in Partnership with The Clinton Foundation at La Quinta Country Club on January 19, 2017 in La Quinta, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)