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The Desert Classic: Power ranking the top 10 golfers at PGA West

By Mike Randleman

LA QUINTA, CA - JANUARY 21: The group of Andrew Landry, Austin Cook and Martin Piller walk up the fairway during the final round of the CareerBuilder Challenge at the TPC Stadium Course at PGA West on January 21, 2018 in La Quinta, California. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
LA QUINTA, CA - JANUARY 21: The group of Andrew Landry, Austin Cook and Martin Piller walk up the fairway during the final round of the CareerBuilder Challenge at the TPC Stadium Course at PGA West on January 21, 2018 in La Quinta, California. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images) /
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LA QUINTA, CA – JANUARY 19: Phil Mickelson plays his shot from the 11th tee during the second round of the CareerBuilder Challenge at the Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course at PGA West on January 19, 2018 in La Quinta, California. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
LA QUINTA, CA – JANUARY 19: Phil Mickelson plays his shot from the 11th tee during the second round of the CareerBuilder Challenge at the Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course at PGA West on January 19, 2018 in La Quinta, California. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images) /

Lefty’s been playing the Bob Hope since before the defending tournament champion, Jon Rahm, was born.

While this likely isn’t his favorite event on the West Coast swing (could you blame him?), Mickelson loves opportunities to play in his native California. Now 48, he’s set to make his 15th Desert Classic start and fifth in a row.

Mickelson made 12 consecutive Desert Classic cuts before MC-ing last year. He owns wins in 2002 and 2004 and recently contended with a T3 in 2016. He also had a T21 in 2017.

“I feel like this is a great place to start the year and build a foundation for my game,” Mickelson said during the 2018 event. “It’s easy to identify the strengths and weaknesses.”

His strengths last season proved to be his iron play and putting. Mickelson finished 13th in both strokes gained putting and approaching the green. That formula helped him to win the WGC-Mexico Championship for his first victory since the 2013 Open and have a pretty solid season, especially approaching 50. The driver was his nemesis, but there’s room for him to breathe a bit at this event, particularly on the PGA West courses.

He had five top-10s in 2018 and only four missed cuts.

Mickelson will be coming off a long layoff as his last start was the Safeway Open (T17) in early October. He may not win this week coming off the bench cold, but he’ll know this course well and can maneuver his way into contention.

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