About a year ago, Phil Mickelson made the driver seem as vital for competitive golf as knickers and a necktie. In the span of five weeks, he nearly won twice, and then he won the Scottish and British Opens back-to-back, all without hitting a driver. Instead, Mickelson relied on a souped-up 3-wood off the tee. "It's much easier to get the ball up off the ground with optimal launch conditions," he said. Why? Because today's metalwoods launch the ball with less spin. Combine this with the higher launch of a fairway wood, and you have a recipe for distance. Here are three driver alternatives for players interested in trying life Mickelson-style.