Phil Mickelson had a Cinderella run last year when he won his first-ever British Open at Muirfield. Can Lefty pull off two straight? Or will other favorites Tiger Woords, Rory McIlroy and Martin Kraymer get in the way?
At the age of 44, Phil Mickelson’s best years may very well be behind him. However, the decorated golfer believes that he still has what it takes to not just compete at the top level, but to also keep on improving through the years.
Three Keys to Phil Mickelson’s Performance at the 2014 British Open Golf Championship
Overcoming Adversity
Mickelson puts on some of his best performances when they’re least expected. Lefty made a surprise out-of-nowhere finish at Muirfield last year to win the British Open. Nobody gave him a chance to pull it out, but he did. He putted like he has never putted before. Mickelson birdied four of the last six holes in the final round to win the championship by three strokes.
[sc:Golf240banner ]Coming into the 2014 British Open, the circumstances that surround Mickelson are similar as of last year’s win. He’s struggled for most of the year, missing three cuts—including at the Masters. He’s has also failed to finish in the top 10 at any PGA Tour Events, and did not impress at the U.S. Open, ranking 28th with a seven-over 287.
All the disappointing finishes make a Mickelson win feel unlikely. But perhaps that’s just the ticket for Phil, who may be most comfortable in the shadows.
Accuracy Off the Tee
The tricky Royal Liverpool will mean Mickelson needs to get his biggest sticks in order. The course features troublesome pot bunkers that sit below sloped fairways that can ruin even excellent tee shots. Currently Lefty is ranked 149th in driving accuracy percentage, only hitting the fairways 58.08% after the first shot.
Mickelson struggled with a similar course at the U.S. Open’s Pinehurt No. 2, fighting difficult slopes and winds across the course all weekend long.
So even before the putter, Mickelson will need to gather his driving game if he plans to defend his title.
Serviceable Putting
Eventually though, all golfers must putt, and even if he can lead the field in his approach game, Mickelson will have to improve with the putter. Lefty is currently ranked 109th in strokes-gained-putting. Mickelson will need to return to his 2013 form which saw him put up a solid putting performance, ranking 12th in strokes-gained-putting.
Mickelson has already tried changing to a claw-putting grip at the Pinehurst No. 2, but has failed to get decent results with it. In fact, the change in style hurt his putting even more as he dropped from 106th before the U.S. Open to 109th in strokes gained.
Writer’s Prediction
As much as Phil Mickelson wants to win this year’s British Open to bring his total grand slams to six, his current struggles with both the long and short ball will overwhelm his still-excellent approach play, and he will eventually finish outside the top 10 again. Still, at +1,800 to win the event, there is value in backing the man who has proven so recently that no outcome is out of reach no matter how unlikely.
