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Is Mickelson ready for the Open? 'Yes, sir'

Sun, 09 Jun 2013 22:13:00 GMT

Tournaments played off-Broadway take their stars anyway they can get them, even if it's only a way station for them. So it was that Phil Mickelson turned up on the FedEx St. Jude Classic marquee last week, passing through Memphis en route from Philadelphia to Philadelphia and the U.S. Open.

Even approaching 43, Mickelson is still learning lessons the hard way, having concluded finally that the best way for him to enter a major championship on a full tank is to fill up the week before.

"I didn't play well at the Masters this year taking the week off [before]," Mickelson said in Memphis. "I know that for me to be sharp mentally, especially going into a tournament where the penalty for missing is so great, like the U.S. Open, it's important that I'm sharp and I'm ready to play."

The benefit to the tournament, in addition to an enhanced playbill, is that the star occasionally stumbles into a victory. Mickelson nearly did so, ultimately tying for second, two strokes back of winner Harris English.

Mickelson, at any rate, already has secured his place in history and winning any additional number of tournaments of the ilk of the St. Jude Classic won't alter it. Winning majors will, which is why he was here, and it bodes well that he was in contention.

He last played in Memphis four years ago, when the following week he tied for second in the Open at Bethpage Black. In each of the four major championships he's won, he played the week before and finished in the top 10 in three of them, most memorably at the BellSouth Classic in 2006. He won by 13 strokes, then followed with a victory in the Masters.

"I really like playing here," he said of the TPC Southwind. "It's a good golf course. It's precise. It puts a real premium on hitting the fairways. You can then be aggressive into the greens. The shot-making is very similar [to Merion]."

Mickelson acquainted himself with Merion, outside Philadelphia, early last week, spending two days there. "It's really a wonderful setup," he said. "It's the best I've seen. I think the reason I like it so much is they've made the hard holes more difficult. But they did not make the easy holes harder. They gave you birdie opportunities on the easy holes, and they made tough pars a little bit harder, which allows the player that is playing well to separate himself from the field."

Related: The USGA's big bet on Merion

He then came to Memphis to continue his preparation under tournament conditions. "This is a good thing for me to try to continue to play better each day in the tournament," he said. "I think that's why I enjoy the competing element before a big event like the U.S. Open next week."

Whatever questions he might have had about the state of his game he answered definitively from the 18th fairway on Sunday. Trailing by two, Mickelson hit a shot that was tracking for the pin. "Get in," he said. It nearly did. He was left with a tap-in birdie.

"Is he ready for the U.S. Open?" CBS' Ian Baker-Finch asked. "Yes, sir."

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Harris English: What's In My Bag

Harris English with Stephen Hennessey — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Harris English earned $1.1 million during his rookie season on the PGA Tour in 2012. From driver to putter take a look at what he carries in his bag.

Peter Millar acquired by luxury goods firm Richemont

John Strege — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 15:20:00 GMT

By John Strege Peter Millar has enjoyed "a meteoric ascent" in the world of golf fashion, according to Golf Digest fashion director Marty Hackel, an ascent that has culminated in the company being acquired by...

My Town: Harris English's Chattanooga

Dave Shedloski — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Quality and affordability are signatures of the sleepy Tennessee destination.

PGA Tour: Fantasy Fix: AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am

Alex Myers — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

We discuss Spencer Levin's hermit-like lifestyle, another thrilling Super Bowl and Tiger's 2012 PGA Tour debut.

Top 10 PGA Tour Sleepers To Watch In 2012

Alex Myers — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Our bold list of 10 lesser-known PGA Tour players we expect big things from in 2012.

Four Georgia Bulldogs in top 12

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 20:39:00 GMT

LA QUINTA, Calif. -- Four former University of Georgia players, three of whom have not played the PGA Tour, are in the top 12 midway through the final round of the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament at PGA West. The top 25 and ties earn tour exemptions for 2012.

Kevin Kisner, who played the tour this year, but was unable to retain his exemption, is tied for 12th. Brendan Todd and Brian Harman are tied for first (with Bobby Gates and Stephen Gangluff). Harris English is tied for ninth.

-- John Strege

Wind, pressure promise wild Q School finish

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 15:42:00 GMT

LA QUINTA, Calif. -- The players in the final round of the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament here will have more than pressure with which to concern themselves. The wind has returned to the desert after a one-day hiatus.

The forecast from on-site meteorologist Jeff Kendra calls for temperatures to reach the mid 60s, accompanied by 10 to 20 mile-per-hour winds with gusts to 25 mph.

Marco Dawson, 48, holds a three-stroke lead and is scheduled to tee off at 9:55 a.m. on the Nicklaus Tournament Course (PST), with Stephen Gangluff and Harris English. The Nicklaus is the easier of the two courses, with a scoring average of 71.578 through five rounds. The Stadium Course has played to a scoring average of 72.682.

The top 25 and ties (among those who haven't already qualified) will receive full exemptions for the 2012 PGA Tour season.

-- John Strege

U.S. needs better back-nine play to win Walker Cup

Ryan Herrington — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 19:07:00 GMT

ABERDEEN, Scotland--If you're looking for an explanation why the United States trails Great Britain & Ireland after Saturday's play at the Walker Cup for the first time since 1995--the Americans finding themselves at the wrong...

The waiting is the hardest part at Royal Aberdeen

Ryan Herrington — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 15:39:00 GMT

ABERDEEN, Scotland--It's one of the more vexing problems the captains for the United States and the Great Britain & Ireland Walker Cup teams face each time the matches are held. How do you schedule the...