It looks like Phil Mickelson is rounding into major tournament form, but not in a good way. I watched him blow the Scottish Open yesterday when held the lead three times on the back nine only to lose in a playoff. Guess what cost him the victory? A wayward driver, just like the U.S. Open a year ago at Winged Foot. Mickelson stood on the 18th tee with a one shot lead over Frenchman Gregory Havret and proceeded to drive it in the heavy rough between two bunkers. He made bogey and went back to the 18th hole for a playoff. Hitting first, Mickelson this time hit his drive into the reeds near the water on the left side of the hole. He gouged the ball back to the fairway, hit his third over the green and made another bogey. Havret got up and down from a greenside bunker for the win. It looks to my untrained eye that all the hype of Butch Harmon tightening Mickelson’s swing, especially with the driver, has taken yet.
Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Jean Van de Velde.
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About Me
- Mr. Fairway
- Mr. Fairway’s love affair with the game of golf began in junior high. He once made his living as a journalist covering high school sports, cops and robbers and politics. Today, Mr. Fairway is a public relations consultant and a widely-published freelance golf writer. His current USGA handicap index is 9.3 and he averages 50-plus rounds a year.