To preview the 2013 PGA TOUR season, PGATOUR.COM is counting down the Top 100 Players to Watch in 2013. For an archive page with the top 100 players and for an explanation on how the list was compiled, click here.

MORE TOP 100: Back to No. 7 | Forward to No. 5 | Top 100 Archive

2013 PREVIEW: Last year was a tale of two seasons for Phil Mickelson, who had a win, a playoff loss and ties for third and fourth in his first nine starts, then went 10 more with just one top 10. He ended the year with a flourish, though, posting three top-15 finishes, including two of fourth or better. Small wonder, then, that Mickelson said recently he can't wait for 2013 to begin.

2012 DEFINING MOMENT: Phil Mickelson's finest hour came when he shot a 64 in the final round of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. He was playing with Tiger Woods that day, and the big left-hander went on to win his 40th PGA TOUR event. He nearly won the following week, too, making birdie on the 72nd hole at the Northern Trust Open to force a playoff Bill Haas won. A triple bogey on the fourth hole at Augusta National likely cost Mickelson his fifth major but his body of work was recognized a month later when he was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. –- Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM

ALBERS’ QUICK TAKE: What a great comeback year for Mickelson on the greens. He was a frustrating 134th in strokes gained-putting in 2011 and improved to 10th in 2010. I think of Phil as a golf savant. Nothing he does surprises me. -- Fred Albers, SiriusXM PGA TOUR Radio

BOLTON’S FANTASY OUTLOOK: Is there another touring pro that reinvents himself more than the 40-time PGA TOUR champion? And despite his propensity to tinker if not evolve, he remains one of the most reliable high-value guys on the board deserved of most top-five rankings. He's 42 years of age and his competitive days are numbered, but we don't have to start counting just yet. -- Rob Bolton, PGATOUR.COM Fantasy expert

2012 QUICK REVIEW

Regular Season ranking 14th

Final Playoffs ranking 5th

NOW IT’S YOUR TURN

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