Phil Mickelson: Why Phil Must Limit Usual Mistakes to Take US Open Crown

Phil Mickelson is talented enough to be in the running to win the 2012 U.S. Open, but his willingness to gamble and make mistakes has cost him in the past. Mickelson is the kind of player that will challenge himself to make miraculous shots instead of playing it safe.

The field for major tournaments gets more talented each and every time these golfers play in a major. There are so many fantastic golfers now, and the margin for error is almost nonexistent. Mickelson has as good a chance as any in the 2012 U.S. Open, but he will have to play almost flawlessly.

Mickelson is a master at getting up and down from strange places on the course, but there are inherent dangers in taking such chances on a golf course. This is especially true in a U.S. Open where the course is expected to punish players for their bad choices and wayward shots.

The 2012 U.S. Open is being played at The Olympic Club, in San Francisco, California. The Olympic is known for its brutal start, as the first six holes appear to be a huge test for these golfers. This course could be a nightmare if the winds off of the Pacific Ocean pick up.

There is also the 670 yard par 5 that will challenge even golf’s longest hitters. This is the longest hole that has ever been played in the U.S. Open. There are few birdie opportunities at the Olympic Club, and this is going to be a grueling test of who blinks first.

This course is narrow everywhere, from doglegs to small greens to hit into, and very uneven fairways to land a tee shot. It is going to be interesting to watch a golfer stripe one up the middle of the fairway, only to see it take a sideways bounce and end up in the rough. Players are going to have to handle their emotions.

The winner of this tournament is going to be the player that controls his tee shots, and approach shots, better than the others in the field. This is going to be a major test of shot-shaping for the golfers.

Consider that in 2011, Rory McIlroy destroyed the Congressional course with four rounds in the 60’s on his way to his U.S. Open victory. This course is going to be set up to make the golfers pay for last year.

Mickelson is one of the game’s stars, and he is a huge fan favorite. Fans love his personality and his willingness to leave it all on the course. He is the perfect example of an all-or-nothing type of athlete.

Phil does everything "big", from tipping workers in the clubhouse to donating to charity, and spending time with his family. He also tries to hit "big" golf shots, and it gets him into trouble. We would all love to live the way Phil plays, but can't afford to deal with the consequences. 

Mickelson’s personality endears him to fans, as we can understand and appreciate his mentality. When Mickelson feels himself slipping a little, it appears that he brings the “gamble” out of the bag, and he tries to do too much. This causes more mistakes and, ultimately, his undoing in a tournament.

Lefty will need to restrain some of that “go for it” attitude if he is going to get through the marathon that the 2012 U.S. Open is going to be. The winner of this tournament might be the player that makes the fewest mistakes, and generally, that is not Mickelson.

When Mickelson’s game is on, he can do incredible things with every club in his bag. It is not a reach to see him winning his first U.S. Open Sunday, but it is going to take a mammoth effort from him. Mickelson is always up to a challenge, but this course seems to have a particularly difficult layout for him.

He won’t be able to go for every green, and he certainly will have to pick good spots to miss, as this course is going to eat up those who go for too much. When he does falter, he is going to need his putter to rescue him.

That will be an early signal for fans on Thursday, and if Mickelson can get his putter going to escape trouble, then things could really look good for him. He seems to feed off of his ability to get up and down from jail.

Mickelson will have to play some of the best golf of his life during this hellish four days if he wants to raise the U.S. Open trophy late in the afternoon on Sunday. It would be a perfect fit for him to win this tournament on Father’s Day, as his dedication to his family is well-documented.

This year’s version of the U.S. Open is all about staying in it until the back nine on Sunday. It is going to be an exhausting grind, but Lefty certainly has the skills to be there on Sunday afternoon. He will need to be as patient as he has ever been if he wants to get to Sunday with the trophy in his hands.