No birdies for Phil and his new driver

Phil Mickelson didn't have much success with his new driver in the first round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, failing to make a single birdie en route to a one-over 73 that left him six shots behind the leaders.

Mickelson made 17 straight pars in his first round of the year on Thursday before a bogey on his last hole, joining a number of big names who struggled on the opening day.

"I can't recall the last time I had a round without a birdie," Mickelson said. "But I didn't make a bogey there until the last."