Phil Mickelson's Hot Streak Continues at the Northern Trust Open

When it comes to Phil Mickelson, the big question has always been: what’s next?

Throughout Mickelson’s 19-year PGA Tour career, he’s been nothing else if not streaky.   

Mickelson could miss the cut by six strokes one week and come back and win by four strokes the following week.

Mickelson could hit 14 fairways and 16 greens during a round of 64 and come back to the course 12 hours later to post a round of 77.

On the other side of that coin, Mickelson has shown an ability to look like Charles Barkley one week and then come back to look like, well, Phil Mickelson the following week.  

So, the big question heading into this week’s Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club was, how would Mickelson follow up his win at last week’s AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am where he overcame a six-stroke deficit with a flawless final-round 64?

Well, yesterday afternoon, Mickelson emphatically answered that question by posting a score of 66, which gave him sole possession of the lead after 18 holes.

Mickelson opened his round with two birdies in his first four holes and would go on to record four more birdies against a lone bogey, which came at the par-three 16th.

J.B. Holmes and Hunter Mahen finished the day one stroke behind Mickelson and Jonathan Byrd and Carl Petterson are currently tied for fourth at three under par.

The opening round was cut short due to darkness but Troy Matteson, who is two under par through 14 holes, and Rory Sabbatini, who is two under par through 17 holes, appear to be the only two players with a legitimate chance of jumping into the top five with a hot start on Friday morning.

Holmes, who is playing in just his third event from since returning to the tour following a “minor” brain surgery late last season, had himself one eventful day at Riviera.

Holmes began his round on the 10th hole and immediately birdied four out of his first five holes.

Beginning on the 15th, Holmes would experience his only tranquil stretch of the day when he strung together four consecutive pars. Holmes' back nine would consist of two pars (coming at the fourth and fifth holes), three birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey.

For the day, Holmes recorded just seven pars in 18 holes.

Holmes also appeared to be regaining some of the distance he had lost during his five-month layoff. He averaged 312 yards off of the tee yesterday in windy conditions at Riviera, which ranked 13th in the field.

Not quite the ranking Holmes is used to when it comes to driving distance, but he is certainly moving in the right direction.

Mickelson is set to tee off at 7:27 a.m. local time on Friday.

In his last two rounds, he has carded just one bogey against 12 birdies and one eagle.

Mickelson appears to be in the midst of one of those special hot streaks that he seems to string together once every couple of years.

But, as we head into Round 2 of the Northern Trust Open, that same old question remains: what’s next for Phil Mickelson?

For more golf news, insight and analysis, check out The Tour Report.