Phil Mickelson opened the 2025 Open Championship at Royal Portrush with a 1‑under-par 70, navigating intermittent rain and firm winds in the first round. He followed with a 1-over-par 72 on Friday. That even-par score was enough for Mickelson to head to the weekend.

Maybe it's just one round, but Thursday at The Open, 50-somethings Lee Westwood and Phil Mickelson shot under par.

Phil Mickelson reflected on the challenging conditions at Royal Portrush after finishing his second round at the 2025 Open Championship on Friday, July 18.

Phil Mickelson handed out a signed glove and ball to his playing partner Ryan Peake after the pair competed alongside each other in the opening round of The Open Championship. Peake played his way into The Open after winning the New Zealand Open earlier this year.

Phil Mickelson and Lee Westwood are offering reminders that the British Open doesn't discriminate against older players.

The Open Championship 2025 had a contingent of 19 LIV Golf pros, but eight of them missed the cut. While Tyrrell Hatton, Lee Westwood, Marc Leishman, and Jason Kokrak were in contention, big names such as Brooks Koepka, Joaquin Niemann, and Cameron Smith failed to make it to the weekend at Royal Portrush.

Mickelson, who has won the Masters three times, the PGA Championship twice, and The Open once in 2013, displayed his sportsmanship on Thursday after responding to a request from a peer. His long-time caddie, Jim 'Bones' Mackay, fondly recalls Mickelson's triumph at The Open as "probably my favorite day" in their shared golfing journey.

Phil Mickelson recorded his best opening round at an Open Championship since 2016 on Thursday at 1-under 70, and he had one of the most impressive highlights of the day.