3:06pm: Hotline with Dave Weekley

Mickelson: Don’t expect record scoring at this week’s Greenbrier

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — Angel Cabrera and Ted Potter Jr. won Greenbrier Classic titles at 16-under, and Stuart Appleby’s course-record 59 left him at a blistering 22-under in 2010.

No one expects such prolific scoring this week on the Old White TPC.

Portions of the course were resodded or entirely rebuilt after historic flooding wiped out last year’s event, and new roots should make for firm greens as the Classic reboots.

“If I were to pick a winning score, it looks like nine- to 12-under would be my guess,” Phil Mickelson said Wednesday.

Waiting for rain to subside before his pro-am grouping with two U.S. Senators and the governor’s chief of staff, Mickelson applauded the course’s “cool nuances” and intriguing angles. He also predicted a scarcity of birdies, which might challenge the worst winning score in the Greenbrier’s seven-year history — Scott Stallings’ 10-under in 2011.

“Because the greens won’t be holding as well, it will be tough to get close to a lot of the holes,” Mickelson said. “When the greens are firm and you’re not able to stop it, it makes it difficult to make birdies.”

Difficulties of another kind sideswiped Mickelson in all three previous Greenbrier appearances. He missed the cut in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

“My record here has not been stellar,” he deadpanned.

With four top-10 finishes this season and a No. 25 world ranking, Mickelson rationalizes that his game is in solid shape, just not quite sharp enough to win.

He hopes getting his irons dialed in to the mountainous altitudes will keep him in contention this week.

Last month, Mickelson skipped the U.S. Open because it conflicted with his daughter’s high school graduation in Carlsbad, Calif. At the Greenbrier, he’ll bring 18-year-old Amanda along.

“I’ll have three days with her this weekend and it’s time that I cherish, especially since she’s going off to college soon.”