Phil Mickelson: Bold Predictions for Lefty at Kiawah Island

Nobody knows what to expect from Phil Mickelson at the PGA Championship, and that includes Mickelson himself after some lackluster play in recent months. He hasn't finished inside the top 10 since the middle of May and has missed the cut in two of his last three starts.

Having said that, he did show some life at last week's Bridgestone Invitational, in a possible indication that his game might finally get back toward his normal level of competitiveness. It would be the perfect time to return to form heading into the season's stretch run.

With that in mind, let's take a look at some predictions for Mickelson's week at the Kiawah Island Ocean Course.

Under 70 First Round

One of the biggest reasons Mickelson has struggled recently is his poor play in the opening round. He hasn't broke 70 to start a tournament since the Shell Houston Open prior to the Masters, and he finished in fourth in that event.

That's no mistake. Mickelson is an aggressive player and whenever he falls behind early it forces him to take even more chances than usual. If he can avoid that fate at the PGA Championship, his chances of being in contention on Sunday vastly improve.

Look for Mickelson to parlay some of that momentum he built up last week in to a strong first round on Thursday. It's a par-72 course, which means shooting under 70 would put him at least three strokes under par and on track to make some weekend noise.

Top 20 in Driving Accuracy

Mickelson ranks 168th on the PGA Tour in driving accuracy. It's hard to win golf tournaments when you are playing so many second shots from the rough. Golfers can scramble to victory on the final day, but doing it for four days is a serious uphill challenge.

The American would be better served changing his approach slightly this week to put a bigger emphasis on hitting fairways. It would be similar to what Tiger Woods has been doing lately as he attempts to work his way back to the top.

Again, it's an area where Mickelson should try to minimize risk. If he wants to try to crush drives on the par fives, that's fine. However, on other holes, he would be wise to focus more on accuracy to give himself a chance to hit more greens.

Top-5 Finish

Even though Mickelson hasn't finished fifth or better since the Masters in early April, the one thing fans have learned about him over the years is that he can break through at any time. Just because he's struggling doesn't mean he's not a contender.

The positive spin on Mickelson's lack of results is the absence of pressure. Since he hasn't been playing like a major threat, he won't generate as much attention as he would during a normal week leading up to a major tournament.

If he can pair that with a safer game plan, the tide will suddenly turn in his favor again. Look for him to be in the mix coming down the stretch on Sunday afternoon, ultimately finishing just inside the top five.