Phil Mickelson finds his game, shoots 65 at Safeway Open

Phil Mickelson flopped in the Ryder Cup, traveled from France to San Diego on Monday, took a flight to Northern California on Wednesday, and warmed up Thursday by spraying wayward shots all over the practice range at Silverado Resort.

So, naturally, he went out and shot 65.

Golf sometimes makes no sense, as Mickelson will attest. He’s playing this week mostly because his management company also runs the Safeway Open, and he logically figured he might head home Friday after missing the cut.

Now, after stringing together six consecutive birdies in the opening round (on Nos. 9 through 14), he finds himself in contention. Mickelson is alone in third place at 7-under-par, two strokes behind Sepp Straka (63) and one behind Chase Wright (64).