Phil Mickelson at a loss to explain tragicomic Open performance
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Phil Mickelson has conceded he is at a loss to explain his “terrible” performance at the Open Championship, although the former champion admitted he was having some “focus challenges” that contributed to him finishing 12 over par through 36 holes.
Despite becoming the oldest major winner of all time at the PGA Championship only two months ago, Mickelson started the second round at Royal St George’s in joint last place of the 156-strong field after shooting a 10-over-par 80 on Thursday; the 50-year-old’s worst ever opening round at the Open in 26 showings. Friday’s performance was a drastic improvement, although his two-over-par 72 still left him short of the projected cut.
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“I thought I was playing well coming into this but I played some of my worst golf,” said Mickelson. “I don’t have great answers as to why so I have to figure out what I can do to get back to the level of play that I know I can, like I did at [the PGA Championship]. That’s what gets me excited and makes all the work worthwhile. I put in a lot of effort to be ready. I thought I was ready. I obviously played terrible.”
Mickelson said that he will now “definitely take some time off” to regroup, and possibly return to action at the WGC St Jude Invitational in Memphis next month. “I normally take some time off after the US Open but I played for two weeks,” he continued. “I had The Match [a celebrity golf match with Bryson DeChambeau and NFL quarterbacks Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers]. I made the cut at the US Open, I made the cut in Detroit, it’s not like I’ve been playing like I played this week. I didn’t play well over here [even though I] came over early, prepared.
Video: Oosthuizen: You want the awkward shots at The Open (Sky Sports)
Oosthuizen: You want the awkward shots at The Open
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“I don’t know what happened on Thursday. If I knew I’d tell you. Because of the jet lag, it might take a few extra days to recover. I’m just having some challenges staying sharp.”
If Thursday represented utter dejection for Mickelson, then at least he put on a brave face in his second-round performance. He remained woeful off the tee, finding the long rough almost every time he used a driver or wood, but at least managed to retain a sense of humour.
“How’s it going, guys?” Mickelson asked the crowd with a wink after hooking a drive on the 15th, the third consecutive hole he had found the deep rough off the tee. There was another attempt at tragicomedy stitched into his clothing: a silhouetted motif of Mickelson celebrating was embroidered into his hat, jumper and shoes, a peculiar choice for somebody starting the day in last place. Every time one caught sight of that logo, it was a reminder of how far Lefty was from his best.
That is not to say there wasn’t any Mickelson magic, and these rare moments arrived in the most unexpected fashion. On the 13th, he hooked another drive way right, ending just shy of a bush and a full 60 yards from the fairway, seemingly closer to the Sandwich Bay than his target. Despite an awful lie, Mickelson somehow dug the ball out with a long iron and sent it trickling to the front of the green. It was a sensational shot.
Then, on the par-three 16th, perhaps a little dejected from his bogey on the 15th, Mickelson picked up a broken tee from the previous pairing, as any average club golfer might do, before hitting a gorgeous nine iron to six feet and rolling in a birdie, as any average club golfer might not. The crowd roared, Mickelson smiled and gave a thumbs up, and everything briefly seemed right with the world. Until he sliced another drive at the 17th.
Despite Mickelson’s struggles, the crowds were out in force to cheer him on, some hopeful of a remarkable recovery from Thursday, some perhaps curious of a further collapse. On this course, the bogeys can be as entertaining as the birdies. But the 2013 champion remains beloved at the Open and the feeling is mutual.
“I fully intend to play St Andrews next year,” Mickelson insisted. “I love this tournament, I love it, and I am appreciative of all the hard work that people put in to make this event happen.”