The Loop
Phil Mickelson makes the most Phil Mickelson birdie ever off a cart path
By Alex Myers
How did Phil Mickelson top his Scottish Open practice round backwards flop shot? By hitting a more impressive shot from a cart path on Day 1 of the actual tournament.
On the par-4, 436-yard 13th hole, Mickelson's tee shot came to rest on the cart path. Apparently, Mickelson didn't like his options for a drop and chose to hit his approach shot instead. Good choice. If you're Phil Mickelson. Here's what happened:
Of course, we shouldn't be too surprised by Lefty's latest highlight reel birdie, even if it was a full-shot wedge that spun to about 10 feet. Mickelson has opted to hit a shot off TV cables before ("I knew I could spin it") and just last year, he made an up-and-down for birdie off a cart path at Doral and then turned his post-round interview into an instructional video on how to pull off the shot.
Oh yeah, he's also three under par and in the hunt after one round of his title defense at the Scottish Open, and a week before trying to defend his title at the British Open. Mickelson's shot was impressive, but turning himself into an excellent links player after more than two decades as a pro might just be his most impressive trick.