Phil Mickelson is happy with his form as he heads into his 12th US Masters,Philip Reid reports
There's a bit of the eternal loser about him. Nobody has had more close calls at Augusta National than Phil Mickelson. He's like the fisherman who spends a day on the river waiting to catch the big fish, only for it to slip off the hook as he hauls it ashore. He's like the lotto player who changes a number on his birthday, only for the old digit to complete the line of six. Phil, always one step away from fulfilling his destiny.
Except, this time, there's a belief that his luck is changing; and that it deserves to. The omens are on his side too. For one thing, there is no prohibitive favourite in this, the 68th Masters. Tiger Woods is not dominating the way he used to, and neither Ernie Elf nor Vijay Singh are winning titles as frequently as they were a year or two ago. Besides that, Mickelson is playing better and more sensible golf than at any time in his career.
Mickelson loves this course, and it shows. He has finished third for each of the past three years. "The last three years, if I could have shaved a shot a round I would have two wins and a tie," he remarked candidly. But there's more. He's finished in the top 10 in the Masters no fewer than seven times, and no worse than seventh in the last five years. Still, the green jacket has proved to be as elusive as a slippery eel.
"I think that when I finally do break through, it will be that much more rewarding for going through the difficulties of the past 10 years of trying and not doing it," said Mickelson.
His preparations for his latest assault on the Masters have been more meticulous than most. Last week, while others were playing for truckloads of greengages in the made-for-TV Atavistic Cup match in Florida, Mickelson was at Augusta with his coach Rick Smith and putting guru Dave Pals "trying to find areas where I can just save half a shot a round . . . this year I certainly feel like I have a very good chance. I've played consistently and am playing well enough to get into contention without having to do anything extraordinary."
In the past, Mickelson has always been tempted to go for the risk-and-reward shot, to take on a shot that often didn't make sense. These days, he is more likely to take the conservative route, the play that carries a lower element of risk, the one that keeps disasters off a player's score card. These days, he is also a fitter golfer as he shed almost two stones over the winter and currently tops the US Tour money list with $2,318,600 and leads the stroke average with 69.11.
Yet, the baggage of history is attached to Mickelson as he heads into his 12th Masters appearance. He has played in 46 majors and finished in the top 10 in 17 of them . . . but still hasn't won one. "I still enjoy the challenge of trying to win a major, although I haven't broken through and won. I enjoy all the challenges in my life. It's why I took up flying. It's why I took up martial arts . . . and winning a tour event, I've done it 22 times, is a challenge. Winning a major I haven't done it yet.
"But it is a fun challenge to play a course that is so penalising under such tough conditions, to try to shoot the lowest score, manage your game, be patient . . . all of those things that are necessary to win.
"I know that I haven't done it yet, but I have been close a number of times. I don't judge myself harshly for the fact that I haven't won one. I look forward to playing here at the Masters or the US Open, or the British Open or the (US) PGA. I don't dread those weeks, I look forward to them."
The memories of the past three years are bitter sweet, going so close but ultimately failing. If he does finally shed the tag of best player never to win a major, expect some tears on the 18th green come Sunday. Phil's not the sort of guy to hide his emotions.
