Q. To take a quote out of your book, did you "ball" today?
PHIL MICKELSON: I played okay. It was a good start. It's a good start. I'm starting to hit the ball a little bit better. I'm starting to putt a little bit better. I probably left a few out there, but I've got three more days, and I didn't hurt myself any today.
I have not been playing the best on the first round, and so now I'm in a decent position where if I can go play and score the way I've been playing, I should be able to shoot something in the mid to low 60s and get right back in it.
Q. Where was your confidence level at Ryder Cup wise before this round and where is it at now?
PHIL MICKELSON: Well, the only way for me to have a realistic chance of being picked is to get into the TOUR Championship and then play well in the TOUR Championship. That means I've got to finish top probably 3 I'm guessing. I'm not really sure of the math.
I mean, I'm not going to say -- I'm certainly a long shot I would say, but I'm starting to play well, and if I can put together three good rounds, you never know.
Q. Would you consider a vice captaincy if that was asked?
PHIL MICKELSON: I love being a part of the Ryder Cup in any way, shape or form, so of course. But I'm not thinking about that right now.
Q. Obviously playing well, but it's such an endurance test, this venue. Over four days the heat is going to be just like this. You look like obviously you're in great shape. Do you feel you are able to keep up with the young guys even though this is such a challenge up and down this course?
PHIL MICKELSON: Yeah, there's no question this is a really difficult physical endurance challenge with the heat, the hills. Fortunately I'm a physical specimen (laughter), but no, I've been struggling with it.
I've been doing the best I can with cool towels all day. I've had Andrew and Tim really helping me to kind of keep my temperature down, and I thought it went pretty well today.
Q. How do you balance when you feel like, all right, I have nothing to lose, I'm going to get some birdies, with well, that was too aggressive, that was not wise?
PHIL MICKELSON: I think because the greens are receptive here -- if the greens were firm, not very many under par is going to win on this golf course. A lot of challenges here. But with the greens being soft, we're able to get the ball stopped a lot quicker and be a little bit more aggressive and get away with some mistakes and still salvage par. So you have to be aggressive. That's why the scores are so low. I'm going to have to go out and make a lot more birdies even though I did okay today. I have to continue playing aggressive and driving it well and attacking.
It's fun; that's fun for me. That's the style of golf I like to play.
Q. How much do you think camaraderie really matters in the large scheme of things?
PHIL MICKELSON: Certainly it makes a difference. You just want the guys to play their best. If they play their best golf, U.S. Team is really strong with a lot of great young players, a lot of young talent. But you've got to get the best golf out of them.
Q. Do you feel like you have any sort of advantage for Caves Valley over some other guys considering the other valley that you played yesterday? Does that help at all?
PHIL MICKELSON: I went and played Pine Valley. It's a -- I learn a lot when I play a golf course. Architecturally it's brilliant, and it was very difficult, very challenging. To be able to come here and play a little bit more aggressive and attacking is nice, but that's a very defensive golf course for me.
Q. That wasn't the first time you'd played --
PHIL MICKELSON: No, I played it the day before the PGA in '05, so I have some good karma there.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports