The Masters 2019: The best storylines from the first round at Augusta National
Phil Mickelson continues to turn back the clock
Phil Mickelson is a three-time Masters champion, so perhaps none of this should come as any surprise. After all, Augusta National is the place where he finally broke through for his first major championship 15 years ago. Hard as it is to believe today, that was a time when we weren’t wondering if Phil would win all four majors – we were just wondering if he’d win one in the heart of the Tiger Woods era.
On Thursday, Mickelson continued to thrill the crowds of patrons like few others can. He went out in a solid two-under 34, then gave it all back with back-to-back bogeys on Nos. 10 and 11 to start the second nine. While Lefty knew he hit some bad shots there, he chose to instead look at the positives.
"“It looked like after bogeying 10 and 11 that would kill some momentum,” Mickelson said. “It was the other way around, because I made two great bogeys that should have and could have been doubles. After going in the water at 11 to hit that close and have an easy bogey and then to make a 6-footer for bogey on 10 after a terrible drive, those were almost momentum maintainers, if you will, that kept me in it.”"
That’s some classic Phil. “Momentum maintainers” when so many players would just call a spade a spade…or a bogey a bogey, I guess. He must have done something right in that moment, though, as he absolutely ripped through the final seven holes with five birdies. Much like Koepka and DeChambeau, Mickelson took advantage of slower-than-usual greens down the stretch and shot up the leaderboard for his efforts.
Jack Nicklaus was 46 years old in 1986 when he won his sixth green jacket. Mickelson is 48, and he’ll be 49 in June, so he would be in line to basically crush that record. Not that I think the Golden Bear is too worried about that one, what with his 18 major titles and all, but the constant reinvention that Mickelson is doing, even in 2019, is incredible. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him contending here well into his 50s a la Freddie Couples, but that’s for another time.
I know Phil can be great here. After all, you don’t win three green jackets by sheer luck. The 2010s haven’t been as kind to Mickelson when it comes to the Masters as the 2000s were, but he still keeps the young bucks on their toes. This game is a lot more fun with Mickelson on the leaderboard, and I can’t wait to see what he has in store for an encore on Friday.