Golf

Mickelson masterful with 63

DULUTH, Ga. - Phil Mickelson got off to a fast start in his bid for a third BellSouth Classic title and made it clear that he's in top form for the Masters.

Mickelson tied the tournament's course record Thursday, shooting 9-under 63 to take a one-shot lead over Gavin Coles in the first round of the final tuneup for Augusta.

Mickelson birdied six of the first seven holes.

"It was a fun day, a fun start," Mickelson said. "I looked up and I was 6 under through seven. That was a good feeling."

Mickelson missed a 6-foot birdie putt on 18.

Coles' career-best 64 set the morning pace.

Charles Warren is third at 65, followed by Joe Durant, Ian Poulter and Scott Parel at 66. Parel made a 21-foot birdie putt on 18.

There have been three other 63s since the tournament moved to Sugarloaf in 1997: Tiger Woods, 1998; Duffy Waldorf, 1999; and Ben Crane, 2003.

In 1979, when the tournament was held at the Atlanta Country Club, Andy Bean shot 61.

Coles, 37, is trying to save his PGA Tour card. His career-best finish in a PGA event was a tie for seventh in the 2005 Houston Open. He finished out of the top 125 in winnings last season and would have lost his tour card, but he received a five-event medical exemption after missing about two months with a broken rib.

Coles has five 2006 events to earn the $267,213 needed to lift his 2005 earnings to the top 125. Through his first two events, Coles earned $7,680.

EUROPEAN PGA: Defending champion Paul Broadhurst equaled the course record with 8-under 64, taking a one-shot lead in the first round of the Algarve Open in Portimao, Portugal.

Broadhurst had an eagle and seven birdies at the Le Meridien Penina course. Asked the secret of his 64, Broadhurst replied: "I just stood up and smashed the driver."

Play was briefly interrupted when five parachutists accidentally landed on the course. One reportedly had trouble and opened a backup chute. The others followed, citing safety concerns.

[Last modified March 31, 2006, 01:09:18]