Mickelson birdies No. 1 in Round 1 of THE PLAYERS In the opening round of the 2011 PLAYERS Championship, Phil Mickelson rolls in a 20-foot birdie putt on the par-4 1st hole at TPC Sawgrass.May. 12, 2011 By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM Chief of Correspondents PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- Mark O'Meara took his cap off and ran his hand through hair amply flecked with silver as he walked briskly toward the stage in the interview room of the media center at TPC Sawgrass. The 54-year-old then positioned the cap back on his head and flashed a big grin. "I know you're all shocked," he said. "But I did shoot 68 here a couple of weeks ago." The scribes, of course, were quick with the retorts. "We're just trying to figure out whether you played every hole," one said. "Did you play from the white tees?" another asked loudly. "That's terrible," O'Meara countered in mock exasperation. "But I should be able to play from the whites. I don't need any more of these 470-yard par 4s." Maybe so. But O'Meara handled them pretty darn well during the first round of THE PLAYERS Championship, posting a sterling 66 that left him two strokes off Nick Watney's lead.