• Phil Mickelson’s 9-under-par 63 matched the TPC Sugarloaf course record and was the lowest first-round score at the BellSouth Classic since Duffy Waldorf shot 63 on Thursday in 1999. Tiger Woods had his 63 in the third round of the 1998 event and Ben Crane shot 63 in the final round of 2003.

• Mickelson’s 9-under round was his best of the 2006 season. He shares the course record at four courses on the PGA TOUR, three of them coming at Tournament Players Club venues -- TPC Scottsdale (60 in 2005), Spyglass Hill (62 in 2005), TPC River Highlands (61 in 2001).

• Two-time champion Phil Mickelson posted his 12th round in the 60s out of 25 played at the BellSouth Classic, breaking out of a tie with David Toms for the most in tournament history since 1997. During this time, his scoring average is 69.88. Mickelson is attempting to become the first back-to-back winner since the event moved to the TPC Sugarloaf in 1997.

• Australian Gavin Coles, a late replacement in the field when Colin Montgomerie withdrew on Monday evening, fired his lowest score ever on the PGA TOUR. Coles’ 8-under 64 was his best in 144 career rounds on the circuit and included holing a 5-iron second shot from a fairway bunker for an eagle on the par-4 17th hole. His round today was the eighth 64 posted in event history.

• Larry Nelson (1988), Keith Fergus (1982), Hale Irwin (1975), Jack Nicklaus (1973) are the only first-round leader/leaders in the 37-year history of the BellSouth Classic to go on and win.

Mickelson’s First-Round Statistics
Driving Accuracy – 10 of 14 (71.4%)
Driving Distance – 299.3 yards
Greens in Regulation – 17 of 18 (94.4%)
Putts – 27
Putting Average (GIR) – 1.583

• Brett Wetterich’s 5-under 67 today was a 14-stroke improvement over his first round at the BellSouth Classic last year when he posted an 81 and withdrew.

• Making his third start in a PGA TOUR event, Scott Parel of Augusta, Ga. fired a 6-under 66 and finds himself tied for fourth after the first round. Parel earned the fourth spot in the Monday qualifier at the Nicklaus Club at Birch River in Dahlonega, GA.

• Statistical News and Notes: Paul Goydos (tied for 67th) hit all 18 fairways today … Jeff Brehaut (tied for 17th) and Joe Durant (tied for fourth) hit 18-of-18 greens in regulation … Ian Poulter (tied for fourth) led the field in putting with only 23 putts on the day and one-putted 11 greens … Charles Warren (third), Joe Durant (tied for fourth), Scott Parel (tied for fourth), Stephen Leaney (tied for ninth), Boyd Summerhays (tied for ninth), Retief Goosen (tied for 17th), Steve Jones (tied for 29th) and Nick O’Hern (tied for 29th) all played their first rounds without making a bogey.

• The 2006 PGA TOUR still has not had a suspension of play due to rain/thunderstorms this year. Last year at this time, six tournaments, including the BellSouth Classic, were delayed by rain/thunderstorms and four complete days were wiped out.