TRAVELERS CHAMPIONSHIP

June 24, 2021

Phil Mickelson

TPC River Highlands

Quick Quotes

Q. Phil, how would you characterize the round today?

PHIL MICKELSON: I enjoyed the day. I enjoy being around Paul and Bubba, and we had a lot of fun. I had a chance there on the back nine. The back nine is really a good opportunity to shoot 2-, 3-, 4-under par, and I ended up playing 1-over.

So I let a good opportunity go after playing the front nine a couple under. I drove the ball well. Hit a lot of good shots and it was very close. Made some good long putts on 9 and 10.

I had a fun day. I didn't score as low as I wanted to but didn't hurt myself. I need to come out tomorrow and play a good round.

Q. Were you able to get some rest over the last few days and be ready for today?

PHIL MICKELSON: I did. I didn't do much Monday, Tuesday. I got a lot of work in Wednesday. I'm hopeful to kind of build into the tournament, try to get a little bit sharper, sharper. I'm going to go to the range now.

I was very close to hitting a lot of really good shots but they were just fractionally off, but I hit it well off the tee, which was good.

Q. You've won here a couple times and traveled 3000 miles after a grueling U.S. Open week. What does it mean to come back here and play the Travelers and keep that commitment to them?

PHIL MICKELSON: Well, it's been a tournament I really enjoyed over the years. I skipped it for a long time because it was our kids time to take a break in the summer. Now they're all out and back east and all over the place.

It's been fun for me to come back and play on such a great golf course in front of such great fans.

Q. (Regarding the putt on 9.)

PHIL MICKELSON: Yeah, to make those long ones like on 9, that long birdie putt, it's just a bonus. You're just trying to lag it up there close and it just felt in.

Same thing on 10 after making a mistake and having that long par putt. To make it was a nice little boost.

Unfortunately I didn't advantage of that on the back nine. Still played it 1-over. I'm playing well and have a chance tomorrow to come out and get into the tournament for the weekend, which is exciting.

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