HyFlyers GC leader Phil Mickelson is currently competing at LIV Golf Virginia at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. The 54-year-old golfer concluded the first 18 holes of the contest. This is Mickelson's sixth start of this season in the Saudi PIF-backed golf league.Lefty is one of the veterans and experienced pros on the LIV Golf roster. As he looks for his first individual LIV Golf title, Phil Mickelson stepped up against prominent LIV golfers like Dustin Johnson, Jon Rahm, Patrick Reed, and Bryson DeChambeau. Today, in the first round of LIV Golf Virginia, Mickelson put up a commendable performance.After playing through 18 holes, he concluded the day with a total round score of 4 under par 67. Phil Mickelson ended up tying for third place on the leaderboard. Mickelson scored a total of seven birdies and three bogeys throughout the first round of LIV Golf Virginia.He started playing on hole 3 and kept scoring consistent pars on the next three holes. Mickelson scored back-to-back birdies on par 4 holes 6 and 7. While playing on hole 8, Mickelson scored the first bogey of Round 1.Phil Mickelson scored a birdie and a bogey, respectively, on holes 11 and 12. Mickelson scored back-to-back three birdies on holes 12, 13, and 14. He bogeyed on hole 16 but birdied on par 4 hole 18. Mickelson scored consistent pars on holes 1 and 2.The veteran golfer is quite familiar with the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, having delivered remarkable performances resulting in four Presidents Cup wins. Apart from that, his performance showcased improvement in driving accuracy, a factor that can aid him during next week's U.S. Open.Phil Mickelson talks about U.S. Open preparations amid LIV Golf Virginia2025 marks the last year of Mickelson's five-year-long exemption he earned after winning the 2021 PGA Championship. The 125th U.S. Open at Oakmont CC will most likely be the six-time major champ's last U.S. Open.In the press conference on Thursday, Phil explained how LIV Golf Virginia might turn out to be a great place to prepare for next week."We have greens that are rolling 14 to 15 on the stimpmeter... we have contours, undulations just like we will next week. I think it's a great way to prepare for next week without minimizing the effects of this week because this is the first tournaments of our second half of LIV," said Mickelson.Mickelson also discussed the factors that might come into play in Oakmont next week."It's also a great way to prepare for next week. Short game, touch, chipping around the greens, rough, speed, lag drills and speed and touch on the greens, all of that's critical here same thing as next week... couldn't be a better spot to get ready."Next week, Mickelson will try and win his first U.S. Open title and complete the last leg of his career grand slam journey.