Masters victory bodes well for Lefty in majors
The U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, the next leg of a Grand Slam that only Phil Mickelson can win this year, brings back mixed memories. In his professional debut there in 1992, Mickelson opened with 68 and was only two shots out of the lead.
The next day, he shot 81 and missed the cut.
That seemed to set the tone for his roller coaster of a career, good times and bad, rarely a dull moment.
No one should ever question the greatness of Mickelson. He was the last amateur to win on the PGA Tour. Only 10 other players have won more than his 38 titles on the PGA Tour. And his Masters Tournament victory Sunday made him the first player to win three consecutive tournaments against a field that included Tiger Woods, the previous two coming at the Tour Championship and HSBC Champions in Shanghai.
While Woods has had a revolving door of rivals, Mickelson has passed through the most times.
The question is how long Mickelson stays there. Looking ahead, a green jacket usually bodes well for Mickelson.
When he won his first major in the 2004 Masters, he gave himself a chance to win them all.
Mickelson had the U.S. Open won until a double bogey from the bunker on the 71st hole, and Retief Goosen had a putting performance that ranks among the best. Lefty finished one shot out of a playoff in the British Open at Royal Troon. And he was in contention late Sunday afternoon at Whistling Straits until finishing two shots out of the playoff at the PGA Championship.
After winning his second Masters in 2006, Mickelson was on the cusp of capturing the U.S. Open - and a third consecutive major - until he unwisely chose to hit 3-iron that clattered off a tree and led to double bogey on the final hole at Winged Foot.
No other major means as much to him as the U.S. Open, at least for now. Mickelson already holds the record with five runner-up finishes, including last year at Bethpage Black .
Mickelson is a three-time winner at Pebble Beach, although the course is perceived as Woods' playground. It was at Pebble Beach in 2000 that Woods set a record that might never be broken, winning a U.S. Open by 15 shots.
Such dominance, however, might have had more to do with Woods' game than the course.
Augusta National, meanwhile, might have been more responsible for Mickelson winning the Masters than his game. He knows that no matter where he hits a shot, he'll usually have a chance at the next one.
"I'm relaxed when I drive down Magnolia Lane because I know that I don't have to play perfect golf," Mickelson said, alluding three key par saves - on Nos. 9, 10 and 11 - on Sunday at Augusta National.
What made him a Masters champion for the third time is the very style that has caused so many to question Mickelson.
"Phil won this tournament because he was such an aggressive player," caddie Jim "Bones" Mackay said Sunday.
