West Coast Swing Review: Will Phil ever become a good wind player?
PGA Tour | 
Written by Michael J. Graney
Graney takes a closer look at Phil Mickelson’s performances during the West Coast Swing. He comes to the conclusion that difficulties in windy conditions and on golf courses with slower greens might continue to pose problems for Mickelson.
First of all I would like to congratulate Phil on his 35th career tour victory along with his back to back wins at the Northern Trust Open. Something he can hang over the head of his good old buddy (wink wink) Tiger Woods. But I would like to go further into the West Coast Swing and discuss some observations about the level of Phil’s game going forward. Looking back at the last four weeks there are some reasons to be excited about the upcoming summer for Phil and things in his game that will continue to hinder his career.
Phil Mickelson is great on the West Coast Swing and this year with his one victory it will continue to look as a success. However, if you look more closely into how he played at the three events prior to his victory at the Northern Trust Open where he did not break the Top 20 there are reasons for his poor performances:
I have followed Phil’s career since his amateur days and he has never been and will never be a good wind player. His shot style never fits into keeping the ball low on the higher wind days. Just take a look at Mickelson’s British Open results: He does well when the wind is down and the greens are fast. But this year when he started out in the FBR Open there were heavy winds the first two days.
When competing at the Buick Open Mickelson played the much tougher course on Thursday in the much better scoring conditions but was being eaten up by the players playing the North course. Then on Friday again he played in tough conditions on the North course and could not keep up to the other players from the day before.
When the AT&T was played he started out in good conditions and again was playing the toughest of the three courses at Spyglass. As the weather turned his game went south again on the easier courses. I’m pointing this out because Phil, as good of a player he is - and he is the second greatest player of this era - plays well on fast greens and low wind courses. He struggles on windy/slower green courses. That being said Phil Mickelson performed great on Sunday at Riviera on the final three holes which again reminded me of his 1st Masters victory and his coming from behind against Els on the back nine after losing his lead.
I look forward to discussing this in further detail and listening to other Phil fanatics - please use the comment function to let me have your thoughts.
March 14th, 2009 at 3:56 am
Best hope for golf this year is if Tiger comes back to form. I for one will not watch anyone but tiger. Your comments that you need tiger for the championship are accurate. He is the one that put golf on the front page and the only one that can put it back.
March 14th, 2009 at 8:42 am
Phil who are you talking to when you state, that “I would love to play head to head with tiger”? Do you not remember all the previous head to heads? Come on Phil, you are playing great golf….think before you state your demise.
March 14th, 2009 at 8:48 am
One more thing Phil….please think before you talk.. 10 shot lead and you talk trash? really? You are the choke artist of the PGA. and you want Tiger to step up? Serious? I was a fan of yours until that statement…………
March 17th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
please believe me this is no spam!
I have to react as I was in great disbelieve to read ‘a sportsman like Mickelson sick to death and still playing, harming his bodycells’so much in order to win. Winning against what lost of his own body?! It seems to me, he does not jet know of the benefits of pure fruit and vegetables, independent scientific proven ‘repairing damage of cells even on DNA level’
All Olympic athletes from Germany are committed to eat this daily EXTRA match winning nutrition in order to enter the Olympic games in London in 2012 fit and healthy. If it is perfect for Olympic athletes it must be perfect for a sport professional as this golfer, pls inform him.
I enjoy to see Mickelson play and I wish him the best for the rest of his life! Kind regards mrs. Diny Troeyen
March 17th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
Lets just be very straight about this. It is not close to the Ali-Frazier competetion in boxing, but Phil is your great white hope that speaks for oil companies, votes Republican, hangs out with the war mongering family of the Bush monarchy. Unfortunately he does not dedicate himself enough to the game to even get in real shape (a little discipline will go a long way) You are constantly trying to create a rivalery where one does not exist. Phil may be thinking about Tiger, but I will bet Tiger does not concern himself with Phil as it is clear who has the best and toughest mental game and I know that upsets many of you since it is still hard for many to appreciate that a Black man can outdo a white man with his brain. This is still a sad and prejudiced country.
March 18th, 2009 at 8:42 pm
I am a Phil fan and we all know who no.1 is. When Tiger was out for eight months and came back they said Tiger was back he never left,because the media didn’t let it happen.E.T. Woods is the best player in the world yes and Phil is no.2, but no.2 has the best short game.
March 20th, 2009 at 5:36 pm
I’m a huge phil fan but phil if you would play your game and not worry about Tigers for once I personally you would win more tournaments .
March 20th, 2009 at 7:01 pm
Phil was simply great at Doral and IMHO could try to play more tournament this weeks to become world number 1, just for that feeling.
March 22nd, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Was anybody actually planning to give their thoughts on the issue raised in the article, instead of engaging in pointless debating as to Mickelson’s political leanings and personal beliefs (which you cannot know for sure anyway)?
So, in response to Michael Graney:
I agree that Phil is not a good wind player. Phil hits the ball very high, and is seemingly not as good at adapting his game to hit the ball lower, or play ‘half-shots’ with a more club - other tour pros either have lower ball flights anyway or are able to do so. A classic example of this can be seen at the British Open a few years back, when at a 170-ish yard par 3 most pros were taking 5 or 6 iron, choking down and hitting smooth, short, 70% swings to keep it low. Phil took out his 8 iron and pured the ball through a cross wind to about 15 feet - okay, so it worked that time, but more often than not the percentage shot is to do what 90% of the rest of the field did.
As for Mickelson only putting well on fast greens - I’m not entirely convinced. Links greens are often fast too (especially so when the wind swirls up around them), and are very firm, at any rate. Also, Mickelson has a good record at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, at which more often than not the greens are painfully wet are slow. I wouldn’t deny that Mickelson does putt well on fast greens (consistently good performances at US Opens would suggest this), but there may be more to it than fast/slow - type of grass, wind etc. plays a big effect on putting. Speaking as someone who has played a lot of British links courses (as well as American style ones), I often see that Americans do not appreciate how different putting on links is - the grain of the grass, the kind of borrows etc. are totally different, and the wind plays a larger effect in disturbing the putting stroke than one might think (perhaps particularly true for Mickelson, as he typically uses a light, blade style putter?).
Any thoughts Michael?
March 24th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
Phil, as a staunch fan of yours I will either cheer your dramatics or die with your dramatics. One certainity, do not change! Play your gambling style and let those other mechanical prototypes look in their rear view mirror!
Tiger’s pride will never admit but I am certain he measures his success in beating you and breaking Jack’s records. The rest of the Tour Players are friends but he knows you are the only player that can give him a run for his money week in and week out!
March 26th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
Andrew
Thanks fo taking the time to make an actual response to the article and staying on topic. I guess you moved to the top of this class.
I do have some thoughts on your post and after reading your response I do think you have something in regards to putting on slow/fast greens. I do think it could have to do with putting in the wind in how he reads the greens and the affect of the higher winds. I would like to point out that it looks to me that Phil who does putt mostly with a blade putter and is a feel putter. He likes to play the break and die into the hold except for short putts which he is more aggressive. The other point about his putting that has always frustrated me is over 40ft putting. He consistenly comes up 5-6 ft short and has to work for his 2 putt. Any thoughs on that? Do we know how long of a putter Phil uses?
In response to a couple other posts talking about Phil talking about Tiger. I’m sure Phil would rather discuss other things but when all reporters are looking for the #2 player to make a comment about Tiger and his return. What do you expect him to do not respond then look like a jerk for not responding?
Tom Brock
“I know that upsets many of you since it is still hard for many to appreciate that a Black man can outdo a white man with his brain. This is still a sad and prejudiced country.’
I acutally think Tiger is using his Asain side for his brains since he is the best Asain golfer of all time. LOL Just kidding I hope your not always this angry and I’m glad to see you watch the game of golf.
March 30th, 2009 at 1:27 am
I can’t say I’ve actually noticed that Phil has a tendency to leave long putts short - I’ll keep an eye out for this at the Masters.
I do think that Phil is a feel putter - but he is also a confidence one - and there is nothing like a 30mph wind buffeting you as you putt, disturbing both the roll of the putt and the stroke itself to drain confidence in your own feel.
Also, Phil uses a shorter than standard putter - can’t say how long for sure - 34 inches maybe?
March 30th, 2009 at 10:59 am
Also, the effect is greatened due to Phil being a fairly tall man using a very short putter.
May 20th, 2009 at 10:26 pm
Phil,
Best of luck to you, your wife and the children in difficult times. I hope that the end results are the right ones for you all.
Steve
May 20th, 2009 at 10:48 pm
Dear Phil and Amy,
Our heart-felt thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. We will miss seeing you on the tour and Amy being there. My hat is off to you Plil, for being where you should be at this time. Good luck to you Amy and keep your spirits up.
God Bless you both and your kids too.
May 21st, 2009 at 6:20 am
phil, i am writing again to tell you that to much acid in the diet is the major cause of cancer and othre illness. you must change the way you eat. you must have an alkaline inner core which has more oxygen which destroys cancer cells.disease does not grow in a person who is alkaline. raw fruits, raw vegetables, whole wheat products, no white refined sugar products,no pop,no coffee. red meat is also not good for you. now in this group of items, the more you cut out, the healthier you will be. this is not saying you should never eat these things, just seldom do you eat them and i guarantee you will have more energy. fish, turkey and chicken,no lunch meats !!!!
May 21st, 2009 at 4:41 pm
Dear Mickelson’s
It was sad to learn of the medical condition of Amy. It is my sincer hope and the hope of so many that she makes a full and speedy recovery. The hopes and prayers of the Jordan family are with you both and your children.
Richard and Saundra Jordan
May 21st, 2009 at 5:52 pm
Dear Phil, I’m a long time admirer of your golf skill and Christian character. My wife and I will add Amy and your family to our prayer list. If you could bring or send Amy to Montgomery, AL, we have had special prayer services at our church on Wednesday evenings for many cancer patients to whom God has shown miraculous mercy. If you and Amy would like to do this, contact me and I assure you it will be kept very private. Only God knows the future, but these special prayer services that include many cancer survivors have been extraordinary. God bless, Dale Gentry, Montgomery, AL
May 24th, 2009 at 9:24 pm
Dear mickelson’s.you have my dear thoughts and prayers.I am a former pro jock and Afgan war vet,and I truly hope for the best .God Bless your family.Aaron bishop
July 24th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
DEAR PHIL
I AM HAPPY TO HEAR THAT YOUR MOTHER AND WIFE ARE RESPONDING WELL TO TREATMENT.
THIS MORNING ON FOX AND FRIENDS YOUR RESPONCE TO A QUESTION ABOUT
TIGER WOODS BEHAVOIUR WAS APPALING.. YOU IN EFFECT SAID BECAUSE OF
HIS TALENT, HE HAS PUT AND EVERYBODY ELSE IN THE GOLFING WORLD IN A HIGHER TAX BRACKET, AND THAT SOME HOW JUSTIFIES HIS BAD BEHAVIOUR.
TIGER WOODS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF A MAN WHO HAS WON THE A WILL
WITH OUT JESUS LOOSE HIS VERY SOUL. MY PRAYERS WILL BE FOR HIM AND YOU AND YOURS, GODBLESS JOHN