In a thrilling display of skill, luck, and experience, Phil Mickelson, 55, wowed crowds at Royal Portrush on Thursday, delivering his best opening round at The Open Championship since 2016 with a 1-under 70.

"We got lucky with the timing of the rain, which only hit us in the last couple of holes," Mickelson remarked. "I truly love playing in these conditions. It’s an exhilarating challenge."

Mickelson kicked off his day by sitting atop the leaderboard after going 2-under on the front nine. Though he encountered a couple of bogeys on the back nine, he salvaged his performance with a stunning birdie on No. 17, sinking a 20-foot putt.

But the highlight of his round? A magical par on the challenging par-3 third. Mickelson’s tee shot landed in a tricky greenside bunker. After a failed attempt to escape on his first try, he miraculously managed to sink his third shot, which spun right into the hole. "That was insane!" he exclaimed. "I was just trying to save bogey, but sometimes luck is on your side."

When it comes to The Open, luck often plays a major role, especially with its notoriously unpredictable weather and challenging links layout. The 2013 Open champion acknowledged how much he has embraced this style of play throughout his career.

"Winning The Open in 2013 was my greatest achievement because it pushed me to adapt to a type of golf I didn’t grow up playing. Now, I relish the challenge and excel under tricky conditions," he said.

Though Mickelson and his partners managed to dodge the worst weather on Thursday, forecasts suggest they might not be so lucky on Friday.

Mickelson shared insight on playing through adverse weather, saying, "In these conditions, 60 or 80 feet can be a great place to land. With experience, you learn not to press it and recognize scoring opportunities when they arise."

During his impressive first round, Mickelson hit over 50% of his greens, leveraging his exceptional short game to gain over three strokes on the field.

As he heads into Friday's play, Mickelson is firmly positioned to make the cut, a significant improvement from last year’s tie for 60th at Royal Troon.

Reflecting on his career in majors, he said, "Winning in every type of major condition signifies a well-rounded player. Although I haven't won a U.S. Open, triumphing at the Masters involves a different approach than at other majors. Every tournament brings its unique challenge, and The Open is no different."