Had Mickelson won last week at the Bridgestone Invitational he would be the clear front-runner heading into this week’s PGA Championship.
Had Mickelson finished his round with four straight pars and in third place, he would still be a front-runner this week.
But the fact that Mickelson was tied for the lead heading into the 15th hole on Sunday, and then proceeded to bogey three out of the last four holes makes me somewhat apprehensive labeling Mickelson as a favorite in the season’s final major.
Mickelson held a share of the lead with four holes to play Sunday.
The co-leader, Vijay Sing could not hit the broad side of a barn with his putter on the back nine, and if Mickelson had played the final four holes at one-under he would have won his first WGC.
Had Mickelson played the final four holes at even-par he would have forced a playoff with Sing, the outcome of which would have looked bright for Mickelson being that Vijay’s putter was somewhere off on another planet.
But, no, as we have seen time and time again, Mickelson could not hold it together down the stretch.
Mickelson bogeyed fifteen, missed a five-foot birdie putt on sixteen that would have made him the sole leader, and then bogeyed seventeen and eighteen. This was in a round that saw Mickelson play bogey-free golf through fourteen holes.
Mickelson’s meltdown last week was no where near Winged Foot-esque proportions, but it was indeed a meltdown.
For the number two player in the world to head into the final four holes with a share of the lead only to bogey three out of those four holes, and finish in a tie for third is indeed a meltdown by anyone’s standards.
But, despite Mickelson’s meltdown, his play at the Bridgestone Invitational can be viewed in a positive light.
Mickelson played his best golf in a long time, making only seven bogeys over four rounds and hitting 72.2% of greens in regulation.
7 comments Last one added 11 months ago — Leave a Comment
J. Michael Morris 11 months ago
A typical battle of attrition from Phil and Vijay. No wonder nobody watches.
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josh millar 11 months ago
this isn phil's first collapse it may just fuel him
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Michael Fitzpatrick 11 months ago
Thanks for reading the article Josh.
Yes, this is definitely not Phil's first collapse. He always bounces back from his gutwrenching collapses but as far as I can remember (doesn't mean it hasn't happened though) I have not seen Mickleson sustain a collapse the week before a major so it will be interesting to see how he responds this week.
You're right, it could very well fuel him, it could also stay in his head and carry over to this week.
Guess we'll see in a few days.
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josh millar 11 months ago
didnt he win the pga after hrowing winged foot away though i could be wrong
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Michael Fitzpatrick 11 months ago
Hi Josh.
No, Mickelson has not won a major since the Winged Foot incident.
He won the Masters in 2006 and then had his meltdown at Winged Foot at the 06' Open and hasn't won a major since. He won the PGA Championship in 2005.
He also sustained a wrist injury I believe in early 07' but it could have been in 2006, which also probably played a role in his porr performances at the majors in late 06' - 07'.
For just about everyone (other than possibly Woods) it is extremely difficult to win a tournament let alone a major - so Mickelson's meltdown could have absolutely nothing to do with him not winning a major since - Mickelson could have simply not had his A-game during the 8 weeks of majors over the past two years. Winning a major is as much luck as it is skill, you must happen to have your best golf game present during the week the major is played. It doesn't do you much good if you have your A-Game the week before the major and the week after the major - that is the main reason why I think we put to much stake in majors when defining a player's career.
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josh millar 11 months ago
thats what makes tigers consistency so remarkable in my mind that he canwin without his A game
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Michael Fitzpatrick 11 months ago
Very true Josh. That fact that in this day and age of extreme parity on tour, Tiger is still good enough to beat the field without his A-Game is really remarkable. The fact that he was able to beat the field on one-leg in the US Open is absurd.
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