Phil Mickelson took a mighty rip at a ball that was resting next to a tree on the 14th hole of his opening Masters round.
Nothing too unusual for a tour pro — except Lefty was swinging righty.
The shot received little fanfare, along with most of Mickelson’s first two rounds as Augusta — as the LIV golfer went about his business on the fringe of contention at the season’s first major.
Mickelson, a three-time Masters champ, heads to the weekend at 4-under and tied for 11th after a solid first two rounds.
Mickelson was not in the featured groups for the Masters, and therefore not on the ESPN streams showing coverage outside the main broadcast.
Nor did Mickelson receive much TV coverage on the ESPN broadcast Thursday afternoon as he played a 1-under first round.
Such is Mickelson’s new reality, as he has gone from fan favorite to outcast since joining LIV Golf.
In another highlight from the first round, Mickelson hit a driver off the pine straw for his second shot.
That shot ended up on a cart path on the opposite side of the fairway, where Mickelson wedged it close for a birdie.
“That was insane!” one fan told another as heard by No Laying Up, which followed Mickelson through his first round.
“As soon as I saw driver come out, the crowd just parted like the Red Sea! He sees all the angles!”
That first round included six birdies, three bogeys and one double bogey.
Mickelson, who kept a low profile this week at Augusta, had a slightly less adventurous second round, though it did not lack up-and-down thrills.
USA Today noted that the crowds were smaller than usual for the 52-year-old, who skipped last year’s Masters while he was embroiled in a controversy after making controversial comments about Saudi Arabia and the PGA Tour.
“I was actually enjoying it and appreciative of the opportunity to be here,” Mickelson said, according to the website.
“There was a lot of talk a year ago guys wouldn’t be able to be here, and I’m very grateful for the opportunity to play and compete here and be a part of it.”
A trimmed-down Mickelson has received as much attention for his new look than his play on course.