Mickelson eager to challenge healing wrist at AT&T National  PGATOUR.com Chief of Correspondents BETHESDA, Md. -- The wrist is not quite 100 percent, but it's not that far away.  Phil Mickelson is eager to get back in competition this weekend. (WireImage)
So Phil Mickelson has played the last six or seven days -- "reasonably well," he added --- and he's eager to test his game in competition again. Hence, this week's visit to Congressional Country Club and the inaugural AT&T National. Mickelson injured the wrist on Memorial Day when he played a practice round at Oakmont prior to the U.S. Open. He had to withdraw from the Memorial Tournament and missed the cut at the Open two weeks later, his first premature exit in 30 majors. The AT&T National, which took The INTERNATIONAL's spot on the PGA TOUR schedule four months ago, didn't even exist when Mickelson made out his 2007 schedule. He actually had planned to play in the Travelers Championship in Hartford, Conn., two weeks ago. Doctors advised him to rest his wrist, though. So when he was finally given the green light for competition, the AT&T National came into play. "I love coming here and playing a U.S. Open-type venue," Mickelson said. "And now that the doc said that I won't be doing anymore damage to the wrist; that I can go ahead and go at it 100 percent, I wanted to get back out and play." Tiger Woods, who hosts the AT&T National, is pleased that the game's No. 2 player, a two-time winner already in 2007, opted to play at Congressional this week. He also liked the miniature ping-pong table Mickelson and his wife sent to Woods' newborn daughter, Sam Alexis. "I understand that he wants to get a competitive tournament in before he plays the British Open, but for him to come in and choose this one, it just makes it very special for us because obviously Phil has got all of the talent in the world and having a great year," Woods said. "Just unfortunately he's got some issues with the wrist, but, hey, that definitely heals. But the warmth and generosity that him and Amy showed was awfully nice." Mickelson, for his part, said he really likes the way Woods has included the military in the fabric of the tournament. Wednesday's opening ceremony, which Amy Mickelson attended while her husband played in the pro-am, featured the Air Force Silent Drill Team, a Navy band and a flyover by Black Hawk helicopters. "It really is a cool feeling," Mickelson said. "I think that it is such a great position to be in that Tiger's been in to be able to host an event and to be able to have such an effect on so many lives, as well as the community here with his Tiger Woods Learning Center. "It's just such a great asset for the TOUR and the way he's incorporated everyone here in Washington, the community, the military, it fun to be a part of this event." Mickelson actively supports the military in his own way. Every birdie or eagle he makes this year results in a contribution to Homes for Our Troops and the Special Operations Warrior Foundation from the Phil and Amy Mickelson Charitable Gift Fund. Mickelson, the No. 2 player in the world, also marveled at the synergy between the AT&T National, the Tiger Woods Foundation it benefits and the way Woods is honoring his late father, Earl, a former Green Beret who served in Vietnam. He says the tournament is "already starting" to become one of the TOUR's elite events. "This is a natural fit," Mickelson said. "What's interesting is this is probably the direction that Earl saw from day one. I'm sure that he's sad that he's not able to be here to see it, but I think this is the way his father kind of lives on because this is affecting what his father did in the military and I this is also implementing a game plan that he saw many, many years before." Mickelson tied for 43rd in 1997 when Ernie Els won the U.S. Open at Congressional. While he didn't like the lush rough -- and he says he'll probably be "leery" hitting out of the tall grass for the rest of the year -- Mickelson is enamored of the green complexes, the distances and the strategy required to excel here. He worked with Butch Harmon on Saturday and has spent several other days with his new swing guru over the last five weeks. Mickelson thinks the tight fairways at Congressional will be a good test to see if he can regain the form that lifted him to a win at THE PLAYERS Championship. "There's a lot of great definition with the contrast and color from the rough to the fairways," he said. "If I can move it off certain spots can control it, if I can drive it well here, hopefully I can have a chance on Sunday." |
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