No major problems for Phil

WHEN Phil Mickelson finally ended 11 years of “major” misery by winning the Masters at Augusta National in April 2004, it looked as if he had the golfing world at his feet.

The consensus was that having rid himself of a particularly unwelcome jinx, he would go on to capture many, many more of golf’s greatest prizes.

Instead, ‘04 passed without anything exceptional and now another three majors have passed by in ‘05 without the slightest sign of the game’s greatest left hander even challenging at Augusta, at Pinehurst for the US Open and St Andrews for the Open.

In fact, he could do no better than 10th, 33rd and 60th, respectively, leaving this week’s US PGA at Baltusrol as the last opportunity to rectify what must rate as a bitterly disappointing campaign, notwithstanding his denials to the contrary. Furthermore, the return to top form of Tiger Woods and the admirable consistency of Vijay Singh mean his task is going to become more difficult.

“I had a great start to the year and, while I didn’t have the same success in the summer, I think that things are turning around and I feel I can do well, not just this week but maybe a few more events as well“, he reasoned.

“If I was to look at it statistically, my putting has been the one area on these fast greens in the majors that has not been at the same level as last year. So that’s something I’ve been working on and hopefully have it figured out. The greens here roll so true that I feel very confident on them.”

Which is all very fine, but the game’s fourth ranked player is still going to be judged on his performances in the majors. Apart from 2001 at Atlanta Athletic Club where David Toms pipped him by a shot, Mickelson hasn’t done well in the PGA even if he was also third in 1994. As we have noted, his three efforts this year have been pretty dismal so was it fair to suggest that his season is hanging on the four days to come here.

“I wouldn’t quite put it like that,” he said. “But it could certainly make my perception of the way I feel about my performance in the four majors do a 180. Still, I wouldn’t wrap up the whole year into how I played in the fourth major, because I feel like a few good strides have been taken in 2005.”

Maybe so, but the spectre of Tiger Woods still hangs over all the leading challengers here this week. When it was put to him that Woods’s record in the majors so far this campaign looked like it was back once again to his all-conquering year in 2000, Mickelson retorted: “Certainly, his wins would lead anybody to feel that way, but as a player and competitor, I don’t subscribe to that view.” Later, though, he had to concede that “I don’t know if it’s his marriage or winning the Masters and the British Open, but he definitely seems pretty confident. He’s going to be a tough competitor.”

And that may well be the understatement of the week. But “Lefty” is entitled to look at things as positively as he wants and believes that playing in front of the rowdy New York/New Jersey crowds will be a big advantage to him.

“I love it up here,” he glowed. “I love the golf courses, I love the people and I love the food. It’s a great place to live.The fans are absolutely awesome.”

Still intent on seeing the bright side, Mickelson turned to lavishing praise on the Baltusrol course.

“This is one of the best, fairest, toughest set-ups we’ve had in years and I now realise why this course gets so many major championships,” he said. “I played well out there today and also had a good practice session. I don’t know whether length will be a big factor or not. I suppose it could be if it does rain and stays wet, it will play longer, although, I think it will allow for a lot of low scores and for two reasons. One, the ball will stay on the fairway a lot easier than if they firm up and two, because there will be a lot of long irons into the greens and they’ll stop quickly as well.

“I don’t think it will suit any one particular style of player and I don’t subscribe to the view that only 15 or 20 players can win this week.

“The first seven holes are the toughest part of the course. If you can somehow squeak through them in even par, you should be able to have a pretty good round.”

From the course, Mickelson moved on to the PGA itself and lauded the organisation for knowing how to set a course up for a major championship.

“They didn’t move the fairways in eight to 10 yards like we saw a couple of months ago. And if eight or 10 under par wins, so be it. If the wind comes up or the greens firm out, even par could win it. The score doesn’t matter so long as it’s a fair challenge. As fellow professional golfers, and that’s what members of the PGA are, we all see eye to eye on that.”

That certainly was telling it straight to the moguls in the USGA who annually do all in their power to make their US Open courses almost impossibly difficult as evidenced by Shinnecock Hills in 2004.

However, sweet words about everything and everyone never won a major golf championship yet. It will be fascinating to see whether Mickelson can match those words with his deeds over the next four days.