Phil remains unpredictable, engaging ... and the favorite
HUMBLE, Texas -- Wasn't it just a few days ago we were talking about how far Phil Mickelson would fall if he didn't finish inside the top 36 at the Shell Houston Open?
And weren't we lamenting the fact that there was no real favorite as we prepared to head down Magnolia Lane?
So much for what we thought.
Mickelson had a mind of his own this week. A focused one, we might add.
He came to a city that has a special place in his heart because of the world-class M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, to a course where people love him -- what golf fan in what city doesn't? -- and into a fishbowl where everything from a crack in his driver to an opening 70 was, well, under some serious pre-Masters, how-much-farther-can-he-fall-in-the-world rankings scrutiny.
All he did was up and win the darn event. Shot 63-65 on the weekend and blew past buddy Scott Verplank on the back nine. Leapfrogged one Tiger Woods on the Official World Golf Ranking list for the first time since this same week in 1997 and settled into the No. 3 spot in the world. Won for the first time since last year's Masters and the 39th of his career.
And, oh, installed himself to the top of Augusta's short list as the defending champion and set up the possibility that he could win back-to-back with the Masters being No. 2 again. He was the last one to do it, winning the BellSouth Classic and Masters in 2006.
Whew. We really never do know what he's going to do next, do we?
"I feel really good for me to have played well and to gain some momentum heading into next week,'' Mickelson said. "It feels a lot like '06 in that I needed to have a week where I kind of put it together. By that I mean, I've been saying all year I'm playing well but I'm not getting the scores out of it, and I'm having just kind of a lapse of focus.
"And it was even evident today on a couple shots, a basic easy chip shot on 8 that I flubbed and 3-putting 15. Those little types of lack of concentration. I've got to continue to work on that. Although all in all, this was one of the best weeks I've had in a long time as far as seeing the shot and being able to hit it. So, it was a great week in that regard and great for getting momentum.''
Not to mention excitement. Saturday he energized himself and the crowd with nine birdies and a course-record tying 63. Sunday, it was Mickelson kicking himself in the rear end after the flubbing a chip shot at the eighth hole, then going on a five-birdies-in-a-row tear.
"I was so upset at myself for losing concentration over that shot that I really was able to maintain my focus the next few holes,'' he said. "And then I was so upset at the way I let my mind wander on 15 when I had a great eagle opportunity and then missed the come-back for birdie that I'm really proud of the way I focused in on 16 and hit the best -- one of the best 9-irons, best shots I've hit all week to within a couple feet to make birdie.
"So I was able to battle back when I did have a couple of those lapses, but I know going into Augusta and the penalties being so severe there that I've got to be able to work on that.''
Notice a trend here? Once that final putt dropped, his mind was on Augusta. Seriously. Totally.
Forget about world No. 3 -- he was No. 6 and jumped Luke Donald and Tiger Woods-- breaking up the European stranglehold at the top of the rankings or going five-for-five in the last events where he's shot a 64-or better.
He was ready to get to the airport and get to Augusta. ASAP.
He hasn't scored well on the Redstone course the last few years. What was the difference?
"I don't have a great answer for you right now,'' Mickelson said. "I don't know what to say.
How personal has this tournament become given his ties to M.D. Anderson, where his wife Amy and mom Mary underwent breast cancer surgery and are still being treated?
"Right now I don't want to go into that because I've got a big event this next week, and it's time -- as much as I loved winning here and I'll look back on this in seven, eight days, this being a very special day,'' he said. "Right now, tomorrow, you know, I've got some work to do. Tuesday I got to get ready for Augusta, and so I'm not going to be able to savor it or celebrate right now. I'll put it on hold for eight days.''
What he didn't hold back on? Praise for Callaway, the company he signed with in 2004. When he found a crack in his driver, Dr. Alan Hocknell, head of research and development for the company, flew in with backups. Imperative since Mickelson is contemplating the two-drivers-in-the-bag combo he used in Augusta in 2006.
"Because I've been experimenting with a couple drivers, he wanted to make sure I had the right ones,'' Mickelson said. "Brought the backups. I drove it great all week. It's a great example of why I feel that was the best decision I've ever made for my career, and I went on to win this week. And so I'm just very appreciative to the commitment they've made to me.''
If there was any irony Sunday it was that he and Verplank are great buddies. They've played on Cup teams -- both Ryder and Presidents -- together and when Amy was diagnosed with breast cancer, Verplank was one of the first players Mickelson told.
"We laugh a bunch, and he's certainly one of the guys I enjoy being around the most out on TOUR,'' Mickelson said. "We've played a bunch of rounds together and had a bunch of lunches and dinners.
"It's fun. But we did not have the same banter today as we usually do in our practice rounds. We were both out there grinding and working hard, and I felt like I -- I kept making birdies and I wasn't catching him. I couldn't catch him.
"He just kept -- he just kept firing at it. Every time I thought there might be an opening like on 12, you know, he sticks it 3 feet or maybe on 13 and he sticks it 2 feet. He played some terrific golf, and I was fortunate in the end.''
Fortunate? He won by three and had time to savor the moment -- for a moment -- before he putted out.
"How can you not?'' Mickelson said. "I look back at the couple of Masters, let's say, and 2004, you know, I'm tied for the lead, I've got to birdie the last hole, and I'm walking up 18 and I'm trying to hit good shots, it's stressful, it's pressure.
"[In] '06 and '10 last year when I had a 2, 3-shot lead walking up 18, that's the feeling I like, where I can really enjoy it and be comfortable and after I hit the chip -- you know, I remembered as I was hitting that chip shot on 18, this tournament is not over. If I don't catch it right, it goes in the water, I've got to hit a good shot. Once I pulled it off and hit a good chip shot, I was able to kind of relax and savor the moment.''
Then, it was Augusta. ASAP.
He spent Monday, Tuesday and part of Wednesday there and flew into Houston late Wednesday. It was, perhaps, the key to the week.
"It reenergizes me every time I go there,'' Mickelson said. "I get excited with the game and fall in love with the game again and again. It reminds me how much I dreamt as a kid of playing there, of competing and winning Majors and winning golf tournaments.
"Every time I walk the grounds now, having one won there, I've looked backed about some shots I've hit or some players in the past hit. It creates an excitement level for the game of golf.''
And this time? It makes us wonder what will Phil do next?
Melanie Hauser is a columnist for PGATOUR.COM and can be reached at melaniehauser@gmail.com. Her views do not necessarily represent the views of the PGA TOUR.
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