Phil Mickelson's Eagle: Instant Look and Analysis of Incredible Shot on 10

I don't know what was more impressive—Phil Mickelson holing a wedge shot from the insane rough of the Merion Golf Club on No. 10 or the two inches of vertical lift the 43-year-old showed while celebrating the eagle to regain the lead in the 113th U.S. Open. 

You be the judge.

On a course that isn't surrendering many birdies, Mickelson's eagle is a game-changer, and he needed it. In a three-hole stretch on the front side, Lefty suffered two double bogeys to drop out of the lead he worked so hard to establish for three rounds. 

The doubles came on Nos. 3 and 5. Of course, the unpredictable four-time major winner sandwiched a birdie between those two holes. Still, it is difficult to survive on Sunday in any major when dropping three strokes to par in three holes.     

After that rough stretch, Phil knocked in four straight pars as he evened out in his quest to win his first U.S. Open. That led to the wedge shot on No. 10, which got him back to even par. 

It was a truly remarkable shot. With very little green to work with and a slight slope in the landing area, the shot would've been amazing off the fairway. Considering it was in the thick rough, though, it is almost unbelievable.

Phil just powered right through the rough but was still able to maintain his touch. Of course, that is exactly why Mickelson is one of the greatest wedge players ever. This is not lost on him, as fellow golfer Colt Knost notes: 

Now, Phil has to try to carry this momentum with him through the 18th hole. That is something he wasn't able to do the last time he holed an eagle in U.S. Open play. ESPN Stats & Info reminds us of 2009: 

If Mickelson does go on to win, the spot captured in this tweet by the The Philadelphia Inquirer's Jeff McLane may not be as legendary as the plaque marking Ben Hogan's famous 1-iron shot, but it will at least be in the same discussion: 

The 2009 Open was the last of Phil's five runners-up at the U.S. Open. He might just retire if he gets a sixth this year, or he might hurt himself displaying those wicked hops if he happens to pull out the win.