State might drop a spot or two from 12th, but proved it can stand with the best teams in the country.UP NEXTUConn: The Huskies will have their home opener on Thursday against No. 2 Baylor. UConn is

TROON, Scotland -- Phil being Phil, he sometimes cant resist being, well ... Phil.You can argue that Phil Mickelson would not be such a beloved figure in the game were it not for his aggressive style and go-for-broke nature. He once famously declared that hed rather lose going for it than win playing carefully.That was a long time ago, before Mickelson won his first major at the 2004 Masters and before he wrapped his arms, legs and head around the idea that he had to embrace a strategy for links golf rather than fight it.For most of the past decade, that is exactly what he has done at golfs oldest championship, learning to plot his away around the storied old courses that host The Open, using more brains than brawn.But for some reason on Saturday at Royal Troon, Phil couldnt help himself. It wasnt some sort of outlandish departure from his strategy during the first two rounds, but it was enough to cost him a couple of shots and see him fall behind Henrik Stenson heading into the final round.When I tried to play a little bit more aggressive on the downwind holes, I started to get a little jumpy with my swing, Mickelson said after a 1-under-par 70 put him a stroke back of Stenson but five clear of Bill Haas. I started to get a little bit anxious. Thats now how I play my best. Sometimes its better to not be aggressive.Those are seemingly shocking words from Mickelson, but not as it relates to golf at The Open.It was here in 2004 that it finally hit him, that Phil being Phil wasnt going to work on these courses, where hard, bumpy ground is not conducive to aggressive shots, that hitting mile-high moon shots often doesnt work against swirling winds.This was the first course that I really played effectively links golf, Mickelson said. Thats where it really kind of turned for me. This is where it kind of happened. This is where I stopped trying to overpower the golf course, where I kind of accepted playing it as its designed and not trying to find a new, better way to beat the course other than just straightforward golf. Thats probably why I love it so much.And yet Mickelson for some reason reverted, at least a little bit, on Saturday.During the opening-round 63, Mickelson hit 16 greens in regulation. It was nearly flawless, with well-placed shots off the tee, many with irons.Fridays 69 wasnt as strong, but the weather was a big factor. Mickelson hit 13 greens and made a couple of bogeys but still shot under par and held a one-shot advantage over Stenson heading into Saturday.Much of what Mickelson accomplished in getting to that point was due to factors other than just strategy. He worked to take spin off his shots, especially around the greens. He practiced keeping the ball lower to avoid the wind. The great players learn to adjust their ball flight, and after being stubborn about it, Mickelson came to terms with the idea.The results first showed here 12 years ago, when he missed the Todd Hamilton-Ernie Els playoff by a stroke. He finished second to Darren Clarke in 2011 at Royal St. Georges. Two years later, a week after winning the Scottish Open at Castle Stuart, he went to Muirfield and shot a final-round 66 to blow past the field -- including Stenson -- to hoist the Claret Jug.Among his 42 PGA Tour victories and five major championships, that victory is the most surprising -- and perhaps the most special.But Mickelson wasnt in the sentimental mood on Saturday evening. It was a cold, blustery day in Troon, and it wasnt getting any warmer as he chatted with the media before heading to the practice range.Things werent quite right with his swing, and he was determined to get it fixed with his instructor, Andrew Getson.I was off today; I didnt have my best stuff, he said. My rhythm was a little quick from the top as we started downwind. I was a little bit jumpy.Some of that might be attributed to the position he found himself. Playing alongside Stenson, a long hitter and excellent ball striker, can do that too. But he didnt help himself with some of his course management, conceding that he got away from his game plan on the front-side par-5s, unable to make the birdies he coveted.It potentially cost me a couple of shots, Mickelson said. It was a day I tried to force it a little bit.Mickelson did a good job of staying in the game, recovering from some of his mishaps and making just two bogeys. When he birdied the par-5 16th, he had a one-shot lead on Stenson, but then he gave it back with a poor approach that he said was the result of an awful swing. Stenson birdied the hole, which is the difference for now.Nonetheless, a sixth major is within his grasp, and its one that would tie him with Nick Faldo and Lee Trevino -- only 11 players have won more in history -- and also make Mickelson the fourth-oldest major champion at age 46. Stenson is a formidable foe and showed it down the stretch Saturday, playing the last 10 holes in some difficult conditions in even par.But Stenson, 40, has never won a major, and there is inherent pressure in that too. He had never before held the 54-hole lead in a major. And there is also that matter of becoming Swedens first male major champion.For Mickelson, it seems more about overcoming himself, about finding the form he had the first two days here and getting back to the mantra that carried him to victory at Muirfield three years ago -- his last win.I know its not far off, because I was hitting it so good, he said. Ive been hitting it so good for so long that I just think one day is an anomaly and hopefully Ill get dialed back in tomorrow.Now thats Phil being Phil.Ketel Marte Jersey . After Gasquet beat fifth-seeded Ivan Dodig of Croatia 7-5, 6-3, Tsonga followed up with a 6-7 (3), 6-2, 6-2 win against sixth-seeded Edouard Roger-Vasselin in an all-French match. Lyle Overbay Jersey . -- New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis is retiring after a 16-year career to become the goalie coach for the Los Angeles Galaxy. https://www.cheapdiamondbacksjerseys.us/ .C. -- Glenn Howard needed an extra end to move into the Masters Grand Slam of Curling final. Brandon Webb Jersey . Colin Wilson had two goals and an assist, and Mike Fisher scored a goal and helped set up two others in the Predators 6-4 victory over the Red Wings on Monday night. Danny Bautista Jersey . Varlamov made 33 saves and Ryan OReilly had a goal and scored in the shootout as the Avalanche beat the New Jersey Devils 2-1 on Thursday night.TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- UConns winning streak remains alive, just barely.Napheesa Collier scored 28 points and had a big block down in the final few seconds to lead the third-ranked Huskies to a 78-76 win over No. 12 Florida State on Monday night. UConn extended its winning streak to 76 games, the third longest streak in college basketball history.Florida State had a chance to beat the third-ranked Huskies at the end, but Imani Wrights 3-pointer was short allowing the four-time defending national champions to hold on in their opener.There are a lot of happy coaches that watched tonights game saying you got out of there with that one but your time is coming, coach Geno Auriemma said.This is the Huskies first single-digit win in the regular season since a six-point victory over St. Johns in 2013. It is also the first time since the 2011 Sweet 16 against Georgetown (68-63) that they have won by five points or less.The Seminoles trailed 65-59, but had a chance to tie it with 13.7 seconds left when Brittany Brown was fouled on a 3-point attempt by Kia Nurse. She made the first two to get within 77-76, but missed the third. The Huskies could not secure the ball and FSU (1-1) retained possession when it went out of bounds.Shakayla Thomas then drove the lane, but her shot was blocked Collier. Crystal Dangerfield made the first free throw, but missed the second. Imani Wright missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.I think this kind of woke us up and showed us that we are a different team than last year. We cant just win on talent. We have to play good, fundamental basketball, said Collier, who also had eight rebounds.Saniya Chong scored 16 points and Katie Lou Samuelson added 14 for the Huskies, whose winning streak sits only behind the team record of 90 straight set from 2008-10 and the UCLA mens record of 88 consecutive victories.Wright led Florida State with 25 points while Brown added 16 points and 10 rebounds.I wish we were sitting here obviously on the other side of this having won it, Florida State coach Sue Semrau said. We gave ourselves a chance. We got the ball into two great scorers at the end. Theres no moral victory here. The victory is our growth as our basketball tteam.ddddddddddddIG PICTUREUConn: Auriemma said before the game that this was a new world they were entering after the graduations of Breanna Stewart, Morgan Tuck and Moriah Jefferson. He also said he wasnt going to judge this team based on what happened in November, but considering they were able to hold on to win at the road, that has to give his team a little bit of confidence.Florida State: The Seminoles hung tough without starting point guard Leticia Romero, who missed her second straight game with a hamstring injury.TURNING POINTThe Huskies trailed by four at halftime and then were down 37-30 with 9:08 remaining in the third quarter, which is the largest deficit they have faced during the winning streak. They then went on a 14-2 run to take a five-point lead. The Seminoles would tie it three more times in the second half but could never take the lead.Collier and Chong each scored four points during the run while Samuelson had a 3-pointer at the end.It was a miracle we were down four at halftime. They (Florida State) got everything they wanted in the first half. If we were down 14 that might have been the end, Auriemma said.STAT OF THE NIGHTFlorida State had 16 offensive rebounds but could rarely convert as it was 26 of 72 from the field. That translated to UConn having a 30-24 edge in points in the paint and 12-7 advantage in second-chance points.POLL IMPLICATIONSUConns tough week will continue with second-ranked Baylor up next on Thursday and another road game Sunday against LSU. Florida State might drop a spot or two from 12th, but proved it can stand with the best teams in the country.UP NEXTUConn: The Huskies will have their home opener on Thursday against No. 2 Baylor. UConn is 53-10 against teams in the top 10 since the start of 2008-09 season.Florida State: The Seminoles continue a string of four straight home games to start the season on Thursday against Jacksonville.---More AP college basketball at http://collegebasketball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25---Follow Joe Reedy on Twitter at www.twitter.com/joereedy ' ' '