Phil: "I’m giving this course way too much respect"

David Westin reports Phil Mickelson's post-first round comments about the lack of fire in Augusta National's fairways and greens, which led to 45 rounds at par or better.

(Mercifully the course didn't take on much water overnight as the approaching storm fizzled.)

“I lost a lot of ground shooting 1-under par today,” said Mickelson, who has 22 players ahead of him.

Because of the surprisingly soft conditions of the greens, Mickelson said, “I’ve got to change my whole mindset and get after these pins, because the ball isn’t running like it used to. I’m giving this course way too much respect because of our past knowledge than the way I should be playing it today.”

A lot of people were annoyed by Mickelson's comments to ESPN's Tom Rinaldi where the three-time champion said "its just not the way I think of Augusta, it just is extremely soft" and that he's "been giving the course too much credit." He also called it a "birdiefest" and noted the much "larger margin for error."

From what I've seen the comments are spot on. The fairways are dense and lush, everything is holding to the point that Augusta National just isn't that scary. Yet...