Burning Questions for Phil Mickelson in 2015
Phil Mickelson’s winless 2014 was like a chunked chip, something completely out of character that will either send him reeling or toughen him as the new season begins.
The awful season, which found him with only one top-10 finish, seems like a fluke since it was something he hadn’t done since 1992.
Rather than succumb to it, Mickelson took the poor outing as a sign and has regrouped and reshaped his body and, hopefully, his game. Now a leaner and fitter Mickelson, who is among the oldest pros on the tour at 44 years old, is primed to win again.
But can he overcome age, an aching body and the onslaught of younger, stronger players?
More importantly, and urgently, will he finally secure a U.S. Open win to accomplish that elusive final victory in a career Grand Slam?
The questions abound in Lefty’s quest to rebound in 2015. Let’s take a look at the burning ones as he approaches the new season.
1. Will a New Fitness Program Lead to Success?
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The days of the lumbering Lefty are gone as Mickelson adopted an intensive fitness and dietary program in the off season.
He hopes the plan leads him to lose 20 lbs and increase ball speed by 10 mph. Following the Paleo diet, he eats no gluten, sugar or processed foods.
The extensive fitness regimen puts him through a series of exercises for 75 minutes a day, four days a week. Mickelson has already staved off his psoriatic arthritis, a disease of the joints.
Muscle has replaced flab on the pro tour, most famously and effectively illustrated by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy. Mickelson may be late to the table, but at least it won’t be filled with fried chicken and Twinkies.
2. Will He Hit the Ball Straighter, Longer, Closer?
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The tale of the tape shows that Mickelson has woefully declined in many key statistical areas.
This is probably not unusual for an aging player, but it doesn’t bode well for one who wants to win. Last year, he was 140th in driving accuracy and 79th in greens in regulation.
His driving distance has dropped consistently from 13th in 2010 to 70th last year; his putting from fifth in strokes gained to 50th last year. He ranked 70th in driving distance (292.4 yards), which puts him way behind guys big hitters like Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson.
He wants to improve the speed of his swing but he also needs to work on accuracy and putting.
3. Does He Need a Shorter Schedule?
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At 48 years old, Steve Stricker continues to be the game’s best part-time player.
In 2013, he played in only 13 events but won $4.4 million and was very competitive, eventually finishing third in the FedEx Cup. Should Mickelson take the same route, saving his mind and his body for the big events?
By contrast, he played in 19 events last year which was down a few from prior years. Still, he might want to consider reducing the number of events in which he plays as a way to maintain the quality of his game.
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4. Will He Get Fred Couples as Ryder Cup Captain?
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This past year’s Ryder Cup was a disaster which led to open combat between Mickelson and captain Tom Watson.
Watson actually sat Mickelson and Keegan Bradley on the Saturday, a development that was strongly criticized.
Mickelson and Tiger have teamed up to push for Fred Couples to become the new captain. Together, they should be able to get their way.
5. Is He Too Old to Make an Impact?
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Is 44 the new 30? Mickelson sure hopes so.
It would appear that with 20-somethings McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, Patrick Reed and a slew of others dominating the headlines that an ancient guy like Mickelson would be too old to do much damage this year.
Age is definitely a factor, but would you bet against Lefty in a head-to-head against these young pups? (Well, maybe you would if it was McIlroy.)
Still, if Mickelson can actually gain a little distance with his driver and increase his stamina due to his new fitness regimen, he’ll give the entire field a run for their money. Remember, he finished just one shot behind McIlroy at the PGA Championship last year.
6. Will He Finally Win the U.S. Open?
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This is a burning question every year for Mickelson. He is 0-22 when it comes to the Open and he needs the win to become the sixth player to grab the modern Grand Slam. OK, he has six runner-ups, but that buys sympathy, not trophies.
He didn’t contend at Pinehurst, finishing 38th, but Mickelson’s unbounded optimism separates himself from everyone else when he says: “I believe in the next five years I’m going to have three or four really good chances. And I do believe I will get it.”
This year’s U.S. Open is being played Chambers Bay outside Seattle, an expansive, links-looking course that is basically unfamiliar territory on the tour. So, he has as good a chance as anyone to grab the crown.
7. Who Will Have Better Season, Him or Tiger?
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It is one of the greatest rivalries in sports and we can’t wait to see it rekindled. Both Mickelson and Tiger are on the rebound.
Phil's anomalous season saw no wins; Tiger is coming off his worst season and recuperating from yet another injury, plus he has a new swing coach.
At 38, Tiger is younger but more beat up than Phil. The new fit Phil will come out swinging and will be looking to win quickly on the West Coast swing.
If you gauge success by winning a major, it is probably a toss-up. Tiger has to stay healthy all year which he hasn’t done in a while. But if he can, he may have the edge on Lefty.
Either way, the two seasoned pros will be the focus of our attention throughout the year.
8. Is Mickelson Still an Elite Player?
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Over the course of the year, Phil dropped all the way to 14th in the world rankings.
Ahead of him is an international array of golf studs including five who have won majors. What will distinguish him from the pack? Does he belong in the same group as McIlroy and Adam Scott, let alone the same conversation, or will he fall even further down the rankings?
When it comes down to it, you cannot rank Phil based on statistics or even wins. Think of his come-from-behind win at the 2013 British Open.
He shocked the field by shooting a 66 to win it all on the last day. If the rankings were based on guts and guile, he would probably be first.
And, as long as he has that going for him, you can never rule him out of the game.
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