US Masters: Phil Mickelson turns on the magic

Published on Sunday 11 April 2010 01:51

JUST WHEN it looked as though Lee Westwood was having it all his own way in yesterday's third round of the Masters, a roar ripped through the pines to remind him that nothing about Augusta National can be taken for granted.

So distracting was the noise that filtered back from one of the matches ahead that the Englishman's playing partner, Ian Poulter, had to back off a putt. Someone somewhere had done something special.

They might have guessed who was responsible. Phil Mickelson has a track record of producing this sort of thing at Augusta, which lays itself open to the American's adventurous instincts. Even when he isn't quite at his best, which he hasn't been for much of this year, the lack of rough in these parts lends itself to the swashbuckling shots for which he has become famous. And, make no mistake, this was up there with the best of them.

At around 5pm Georgia time, Westwood was four shots clear of the world No 3. About an hour later, he was a stroke behind him, and the centrepiece of this brutal burst of theatre, the blow that was heard across the course, was an eagle at the par-4 14th. He had just rattled off a 3 on the par-5 13th, but it was nothing to this drama, a high approach to the course's craziest green that pitched about five left of the flag and spun into the hole. Mickelson high-fived his caddie, Bones, and sauntered up to the hole while all hell seemed to break loose around him. "You don't plan on balls like that going into the hole," he said later.

It was only the third time in Masters history that a player had eagled two holes in a row. And the worst of it was that his next hole was the par-5 15th, which has accommodated more eagles than most down the years. Mickelson's chance of a scarcely believable three in a row looked to have gone when his drive drifted behind the trees, and he laid up short of the water. But with that wand of his that lesser mortals call a wedge, he came within inches of holing out yet again. With the crowd lapping it up, Mickelson could hardly stop laughing. The putter? Who needs it?

Phil, of course, wouldn't be Phil without a few flakeys along the way. A risk, by definition, means that they don't all come off. His wobbles on the way included a dropped shot on the 17th, and a struggle on the last where he needed one of his trademark flop shots to salvage par. All of which culminated in a 67 that left him on 11 under par. When he headed for the scorer's hut he was one behind Westwood, who had responded to the challenge.

By close of play, he was still just a shot back, and three clear of third-placed Tiger Woods. Somehow, it had all come together for Mickelson, who hasn't been his old self for a while now, with family illness draining his emotions. "I haven't played this well in a long time," he said. "My game is as good as it has been. I love this tournament more than any other, love being in contention."

Those who had listened to him in the press centre only the evening before commented on the unusual confidence with which he spoke, as though he sensed that his game was on the brink of clicking. He has putted well this year, driven well and, of course, performed his usual heroics with the short clubs, but not all at once.

That, he hopes, will happen at Augusta in today's final round where he will be the biggest threat to an English victory. "This couldn't be a better place for me to bring my game together because you don't have to be perfect," he says.

"It allows me to free up a little bit and play without fear because the opportunities to recover are there. If I hit a poor drive in the trees, I'm going to have a swing underneath those pine trees, a shot and a chance to get it up by the green and let my short game save par."

His first-round 67 was a fine start to the tournament, and a 71 on Friday was enough to keep him within range, but it was yesterday that he well and truly announced his candidature for another Masters title. He likes his charges at Augusta, and there is every chance of another this evening. This, after all, is the man who won the 2004 Masters, his first major, by birdieing five of his last seven holes.

His record in the season's first major is nothing short of remarkable. Two of his three majors have been won here, in 2004 and 2006. His other triumph was in the 2005 PGA Championship at Baltusrol. In 17 visits to Augusta, he has posted a dozen top-ten finishes. He was third for three straight years between 2001 and 2003. In each of the last two years, he has been fifth.

That it has been four years since his last major victory has come as a surprise to those who expected a flood of them, but Mickelson has had more to think about than golf lately. His wife, Amy, has been battling to overcome breast cancer, as has his mother, Mary. Both are in town this week, together with his children, which could make for an emotional occasion should it all go to plan this afternoon. "It would be cool," he said last night. "This is the first week that they've travelled with me since the Players last year, so it would be cool. It's been a fun week." Not half as fun as it has been to watch.