Mickelson still feels comeback is possible
Watching Phil Mickelson labor at this Masters Tournament tells a story.
He's a two-time green jacket winner and the defending champion, but he seems like he's still trying to figure this place out.
He's constantly tinkering with his winning formula. He made an adjustment Saturday, dumping the two-driver approach that powered him to his second Masters championship a year ago.
"With it being windy, I used the other driver to hit the low shots, and I hit that almost exclusively today," said Mickelson, who will be four shots off the lead when he tees off today.
He sounds like he's never played the Masters. But nobody has played a Masters like this. Not at the course's current length and in these conditions.
"Over par will win the tournament," he said after shooting back-to-back 73s the past two days.
Mickelson spent extra time Saturday in the scorer's cabin. He scanned to see where he was on the leaderboard and thought about where he would end up. He thought about the number he was going to have to shoot today to retain his championship.
That number will be an extreme test of his prowess.
"I've got to make 14 pars and four birdies to give myself a chance," he said. "There are four birdie holes out there on the par-5s, and that's where I have to make birdies to give myself a chance. Those are the only birdie holes the way this course sets up."
Four times during his post-round comments he repeated his prediction that over par will win.
"I'd like to have been closer to even par today, but that's what it is going to take," he said. "I've got to get closer to even. Because the winning score will be over par."
He thought he played well. He even used the word "terrific" to describe his performance given Saturday's blustery conditions.
His only complaint was he didn't take advantage of the par-5s to peel a few shots off his score. He cited historical precedent when addressing the challenge ahead of him.
"I don't feel like this is unrealistic by any means," Mickelson said. "I've seen guys like (Jack) Nicklaus and (Gary) Player come back from seven shots. Some people have come back from even further, like Jackie Burke."
Then he offered more proof that he is still trying to figure out this year's Masters.
"Historically at this tournament, the winner has come from the final pairing the last however many years (since 1991). I think a lot of that is because late in the afternoon the winds tend to die down and get very calm on the back nine. The weather conditions are just about perfect, and guys can shoot low rounds."
But he quickly dismissed that notion, maintaining that this tournament is playing off a new script.
"I think that is going to be different tomorrow," he said. "I think there's a good chance that someone who goes off early and puts together a low number can possibly take the title this year."
Reach Jeff Sentell at (706) 823-3425 or jeff.sentell@augustachronicle.com.
