Newsmakers 2007: Phil Mickelson

By John Antonini

Illustrations By Keith Seidel

November 23, 2007

Whether it's discussing his subcutaneous fat or the inferior equipment used by a rival, Phil Mickleson doesn't mince words. Nor does he disappoint on the golf course. He'll emerge victorious in the game's biggest tournaments or find diabolical ways to lose them. This year was no different. In fact, Lefty's seesaw year had more than its usual share of ups and downs. Here's a sample.

FEBRUARY

AT&T National Pebble Beach Pro-Am

Mickelson began the year insisting he was over his final-hole debacle at the U.S. Open that defined his 2006 and proved it by winning the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, driving the ball so well that he entered the following week's Nissan Open at Riviera, where he - normally doesn't play because the course doesn't suit him.

FEBRUARY

Nissan Open

Leading the Nissan Open by three strokes in the final round, Mickelson needed a par on 18 to win for the second straight week. Instead he mis-hit a drive, under-clubbed his second shot and, after a poor chip, missed a 17-foot par putt to force a playoff he eventually lost to Charles Howell III.

APRIL

Phil Hires Butch

Seen working with Butch Harmon, the former coach for Tiger Woods, at the WGC-Accenture Match Play in February, Mickelson downplayed the meeting, calling Harmon "another set of eyes" and reaffirmed his working relationship with longtime instructor Rick Smith would continue. But Butch and Phil worked together again at Doral in March, and after struggling to a T-24 finish in the Masters, his worst finish at the year's first major since 1997, Mickelson left Smith and officially hired Harmon.

MAY

The Players Championship

It's not a major, but Mickelson won the next best thing, taking the Players title. The victory prompted him to sign the yellow flag from the 18th hole for Harmon with the inscription, "To Butch, the 1st of Many!"

JUNE

U.S. Open

It was supposed to be the first real test for the new Phil and the final exorcism of the demons acquired at Winged Foot in 2006. But Mickelson missed the cut at the U.S. Open, in part because the left wrist he injured two weeks earlier while practicing in high grass wouldn't allow him to hit from Oakmont's deep rough without pain. Afterward Mickelson took shots at the USGA. "It's disappointing to ... spend all this time getting ready for [the U.S. Open] and have the course setup injure you," he said.