Mickelson can erase Open heartache
Phil Mickelson is ready to put his missed opportunity at The Open behind him as he prepares to tee off in the PGA Championship at Baltusrol.
Despite a flawless 65 in the final round at Troon, the American couldn't prevent a rampant Henrik Stenson from claiming his first major victory.
Mickelson's 72-hole total would have been good enough to win or force a play-off in 141 of the 145 Open Championships staged to date, but it wasn't up to scratch on this occasion.
As a result of the Olympics, a compressed schedule sees the PGA Championship staged just two weeks after The Open, and that could count in Mickelson's favour, as he looks to ride the wave of his newfound form.
Mickelson also won the PGA Championship the last time it was staged at Baltusrol in 2005, and so has plenty of good memories to feed off of.
"That was really a fun week," Mickelson said. "That was something I cherish.
"I've gone back there a number of times, they were nice enough to give me a membership and the head pro there Doug Steffen and I became very good friends and we go back and relive that final round and those moments. It was a Monday finish, which was rare, but certainly special."
The highlight of that PGA victory back in 2005 was his up-and-down for birdie from short of the green on the 72nd hole that sealed the deal.
It was a superb flop shot that set up the birdie, but for a player boasting one of the most impressive short game in the business, it was nothing special.
"It really wasn't that hard of a shot because the lie was okay and there was a bit of a hollow so the shorter I hit it the ball was going to chase and the further I hit it the ball was going to slow down," Mickelson added.
"I felt like I had a pretty good margin of error and hit it to about three feet. It was a good feeling.
"That was an important one because I always felt like once I won one major I was going to win multiple times. I needed to get that second one and got it fairly soon, a year and a half later."
Mickelson has been paired with defending champion Jason Day and two-time winner Rory McIlroy for the first two rounds.
Latest
-
Equipment
Miura targets wider market with hollow-bodied IC-602 irons
Miura are out to build on their existing market with new clubs that cast a slightly wider net in terms of player quality.
-
Videos
WATCH: Young woman steps up confidently to drive – and loses club behind her
Golf’s influencer girls can make it look easy.
-
Equipment
Pros give their verdict on Callaway Chrome Tour and Chrome Tour X balls
Callaway staffers have now had a good period of time to get used to their new ball offerings, the Chrome Tour and Chrome Tour X.
-
Videos
WATCH: 7 times the pros horribly fluffed their shots like the rest of us
Just when you think you have it all figured out.
-
Equipment
Collin Morikawa switches his putter again – and marvels at ‘incredible’ results
Collin Morikawa isn’t a professional who changes clubs lightly but he also isn’t averse to moving with the times.
-
Videos
WATCH: Kid pulls off unbelievable flop shot over his dad’s head
The flop shot is all about getting up and down with precision and this kid has it all.
-
Equipment
The clubs that helped Peter Malnati end his title drought at the Valspar Championship
Titleist staffer Peter Malnati ended his long wait for another championship at Innisbrookâs Copperhead Course.
-
Videos
WATCH: Amateur golfer takes hacking to a new level – leaving crowd in fits of laughter
Hackers are going to hack.