Yang & Watson Share Lead in Scottsdale


South Korea's Y.E. Yang and Bubba Watson each fired 7-under 64s to take a share of the opening-round lead in the Waste Management Phoenix Open. The $6.2 million PGA Tour event began Thursday at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona.

Yang, a two-time Tour winner - including the 2009 PGA Championship, opened with a pair of birdies and a bogey on the front nine to make the turn in 1-under 34. The 42-year-old got warmed up though, with six birdies on the home half for a 30.

The long-hitting Watson was bombing his drives all day. The 2012 Masters champion, who went winless last year, carded eight birdies and a lone bogey for his 64.

One stroke back of the leaders are Americans Pat Perez, Kevin Stadler, William McGirt, Harris English and Chris Kirk, along with Australians Greg Chalmers and Matt Jones. Jones had the shot of the day when his tee ball at the par-3 16th - the hole with the surrounding grandstands filled with rowdy galleries - stopped a foot from the hole.

Perez is playing nicely for the second straight week. Though he ended up in 21st in the Farmers Insurance Open after a closing 74 on Sunday, he was in contention for three rounds at Torrey Pines.

The player known for his hot-headedness has found a new equanimity that seems to be allowing him to move on from his club-slamming days. "I was extremely pleased at how I could take some changes like that and play that golf course and be in contention late Sunday," Perez told PGATour.com of his performance last week.

"Whatever happens, you just move forward from it and try not to make the mistake again or just learn from it or just basically move on. That's what I'm trying to do with a lot . . . just move on from things."

Two behind the leaders are Hunter Mahan, Keegan Bradley, Ryan Moore, Tommy Gainey, Jason Kokrak, Brendon de Jonge and Brendan Steele.

Defending champion Phil Mickelson carded a 71. Mickelson, who opened with a 60 last year and cruised to a four-stroke victory over Brandt Snedeker, was uncertain whether he'd play this week after back problems forced him to withdraw from the Farmers Insurance Open after two rounds.

But Mickelson gamely played Thursday, posting five birdies, three bogeys and a double on the par-3 12th hole after his tee shot found water for an even-par score. "My game was a little rusty," he told PGATour.com. "I wasn't quite focused on every shot the way I need to be, and let way too many shots slide today."

As for his back, Mickelson added, "It's fine. It was a five minute fix. I just have to be careful for a week or two as it heals up. Mobility is back. I just didn't play well."

Scott Stallings, who won the Farmers Insurance Open, carded a 1-under 70.

For all the scores, visit http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/waste-management-phoenix-open/leaderboard.html.