Jordan Spieth leads at Charles Schwab Challenge but Phil Mickelson struggles

Jordan Spieth burst out of the blocks on day one of the Charles Schwab Challenge with a score of 7-under-par to set the early pace in Texas.

Spieth, playing alongside PGA Champion Phil Mickelson and defending Charles Schwab Challenge champion Daniel Berger, started his round superbly with a birdie on the 10th hole and he didn't look back from there.

The Texan was 3-under-par heading into his second nine, in which he added another four birdies, including three consecutive birdies in his final three holes.

Wedge Wizardry from @JordanSpieth! pic.twitter.com/Cagbp5vGHH

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 27, 2021

His round was highlighted by a superb chip-in birdie on the par-3 8th hole, which took him to 6-under-par for the round. The 27-year-old won this tournament in 2016 and has finished second twice as well, so he has a clear affinity for Colonial Country Club.

Off the back of his history-making win at Kiawah Island, Mickelson came back down to earth on Thursday with a 3-over-par round of 73 to finish 10 shots behind Spieth.

The 50-year-old made five bogeys and two birdies in the first round in Texas, which was in stark contrast to his superb play at the PGA Championship last week.

Not that he cared a great deal. 

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Lefty has won this tournament twice in his career, in 2000 and 2008, so he will be hoping for a better round on Friday if he is to become only the second player to win the tournament at least three times alongside Ben Hogan.

The English duo of Ian Poulter and Justin Rose both finished five shots behind the leader Spieth to remain in the hunt heading into day two. Poulter, who has only made one top-10 finish this season on the PGA Tour, had a steady round of three birdies and one bogey on Thursday to card a 68.

The 2013 US Open champion Rose finished tied eighth at the PGA Championship last week and the 40-year-old kept up his fine form with a first-round score of 2-under-par here.

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