Kang misses out on 59, but not lead

Mickelson carded a six-under 65 at Monterey Peninsula, highlighted by his eagle at the 10th.

They were one stroke clear of American Phil Mickelson, Sweden’s Freddie Jacobson and overnight leader Chez Reavie. He had burned up the front nine with five birdies before the turn, but was slowed by two bogeys on the back nine – including the 18th.

He has never played this event, and the former U.S. Open champion was not used to making seven birdies and playing a supporting role to that other Justin in his group. “It’s a chance to get to know people and then also to play some of the best golf courses in the world”.

“I feel like I’m living a dream right now”, Kang told reporters.

“I thought I was going to shoot a lot lower than I did”, Mickelson said. Just kind of a bit odd. I just was not quite dialed in with the wedges or short game.

Other top names were telling similar stories. Pebble Beach again played the toughest by a small margin over Spyglass Hill…. No. 3 Jason Day shot a 5-under 66 and No. 9 Patrick Reed a 65 at MPCC, and they were tied at 6 under, still very much in contention. He now sits 1 shot back of the lead. That’s obviously when you really appreciate how someone can grab a guitar, go a cappella and sound so awesome.

Oh, and don’t forget Brandt Snedeker, the defending champion and two-time victor who set the tournament scoring record a year ago.

The world number 306, who shot a level-par 72 on day one at Spyglass in the three-course event, had nine birdies and an eagle to reach 11 under par. He missed an entire year – nearly all of 2014 – due to a serious left wrist injury that required complicated surgery, five months in a hard cast and an arduous rehab. Playing on three different courses gives a tournament a new twist.

He admitted he had moments when he wondered if he’d ever be back.

Langer went on to win in 2013 after also opening with a 62.

The putts dried up for the Englishman on the front nine, and a birdie at the long sixth was offset by his only bogey of the day at the eighth as he closed on nine under par.

He was joined at seven under by Australian Cameron Smith and American Bronson Burgoon, who both shot 64 at Monterey Peninsula.

Pebble Beach The unheralded and inexperienced still reign, but Phil Mickelson emerged high on the leaderboard as the lone representative of the elite and experienced Friday at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Mickelson missed the tournament for the first time in 19 years in 2015, but showed he has lost none of his old magic on some of his favorite courses and claimed he could have played even better. “But all in all, to actually shoot 1 under with what I felt like I should have shot today is promising, considering we’re going to the two easier courses in my mind”.

“My career (low) round was 61 a couple of times so I am like, this is good”.

Rose is the only player among the world’s six top 10-ranked golfers among the top 13 scorers.