Masters 2012: Why a Win Would Redefine Phil Mickelson's Legacy

Remember when Phil Mickelson was the best player without a major championship win?

Eight years and four majors later, Lefty is one of only 26 men with four majors to their name, and only 18 have more than him.

This weekend, at the age of 41, the three-time Masters winner will look to join the rarefied air that only Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Arnold Palmer breathe—4 wins (or more in Nicklaus' case) at the Masters.

Lefty won the Pebble Beach Pro-Am earlier this year and now returns to the one place he claims to be most comfortable: Augusta.

Mickelson is already slated to go down as one of the best to ever swing a club, but a fourth green jacket would legitimately redefine his legacy.

He'd join the 18 players currently ahead of him with five or more majors, but he'd also become an everlasting fixture at Augusta.

More than that, golf is currently being taken over by a number of fiery, long-hitting youths. And Tiger, easily the most popular and polarizing player in the game's history, is on a long road to redemption that may finally end this weekend.

Everyone is talking about Tiger, Rory McIlroy, Hunter Mahan, Adam Scott, Keegan Bradley and defending champion Charl Schwartzel, while Phil just floats along in the background.

But Vegas isn't duped by the quiet around Lefty.

Bovada currently lists his odds of winning this weekend at 11-1—trailing only Tiger and Rory.

What we know about Phil is that he can charge at any time. He's comfortable with the lead, and he's comfortable chasing. He's not intimidated by anyone and can rise to the occasion as well as anyone.

That is what the Masters are about, rising to the occasion.

A fourth green jacket won't just be another great achievement for Phil Mickelson; it will be the crowning achievement of his career.