LA QUINTA, Calif. (AP) Phil Mickelson returned from a long layoff with a big mid-round run. PGA West's TPC Stadium Course came back strong, too, Thursday in the CareerBuilder Challenge.
Mickelson played a seven-hole stretch in 6 under at La Quinta Country Club, holing out for eagle on the par-4 eighth with a shot that spun back 15 feet. He chipped in on the next hole and added another birdie on 11, but made two late bogeys and finished with a 4-under 68 in his first start since the Presidents Cup in October.
Jason Dufner, Jerry Kelly, Jeff Overton and India's Anirban Lahiri shared the lead at 64.
The Stadium Course had a stroke average of 71.825 in its first round in the event since it was dropped from the rotation after its 1987 debut. Adam Hadwin had the best round there with a 66.
