Best of the Decade: The Best Golf Shots of the 2010’s
By Bill Felber
8. Phil Mickelson, 13th hole, Augusta National, 2010 Masters
The Augusta pine straw is far less than an ideal hitting surface.
Its famous lack of stability makes for both uncertain contact and an uncertain stance, in turn creating two solid opportunities to truly butcher a key shot.
Add in the creek fronting Augusta’s 13th hole, a couple of trees and the infamous pressure of the Masters, and it would only make sense to punch a short iron off the straw into position for an easy third shot approach.
There’s only one problem with that logic. We’re talking about Phil Mickelson here.
In the final round of the 2010 Masters, Mickelson led Lee Westwood by two strokes when he faced that moment. There was never a doubt in his mind that he would go for the green.
"“If I am going to win this tournament, I’m going to have to hit a really good shot under a lot of pressure,” Mickelson told his caddy, Jim ‘’Bones’ Mackay. “I am going to do it right now,” Mackay recalled Mickelson adding."
He did exactly that, 190-yard a six-iron to within three feet of the cup. Mickelson missed the eagle putt but made birdie and went on to beat Lee Westwood by three strokes for his third Masters and a fourth major championship.