Mickelson started out with a disappointing two-over par 74 to begin his quest for a fourth green jacket, which included five birdies, four bogeys, and a costly triple-bogey on the 10th hole at Augusta National Golf Club. On the tenth, Phil hit a wayward tee shot out of bounds to the left, and then hit a provisional, which almost went out of bounds again were it not for a good break. From the left rough Mickelson hit his approach shot into the right greenside bunker, and eventually went on to make a seven. After going birdie-bogey-birdie on holes 13 through 15, Phil needed a strong finish to give him some momentum heading into Friday, and did just that with a fantastic birdie on the 18th hole.

Phil Mickelson knew he still had a fighting chance at winning the Masters even though there were 54 golfers ahead of him after day one, stating in his post-round interview, “that birdie on 18 was a big momentum birdie for me because I can get out here and birdie 1, 2 or 3 and I’m right back at even par.”  On Friday, Mickelson was able to do just that, making birdie on hole 3 to begin a day in which he shot a solid round of four-under par 68 to put himself right back into the tournament.

The key hole for Phil came on the par 3 12th; he had just come off of a disappointing bogey on the previous hole and needed a strong finish to put himself in contention come the weekend.  On 12, Phil hit a great tee shot to about 10 feet and was able to make the putt for birdie, in what began a stretch of four birdies over the last seven holes.  With an off day from the leaders, Phil found himself only three shots out of the lead heading into Saturday.  “I love the position I’m in,” Phil said after the round.  “To only be three back with 36 to go? There is a lot of time left and a lot of birdies out there.”

Saturday is what is known as “moving day,” and if there ever was an example of someone moving up the leaderboard on this day it was Phil Mickelson at the Masters.  Phil shot an incredible third round score of six-under par 66 to vault himself one shot behind Peter Hanson for the overall lead.  It was capped off by an incredible eagle on the 13th hole as part of his back-nine 30, where Mickelson made a hooking 25 foot putt for the 3.

Going into the final round, Phil was practically the unanimous favorite to win the event given his play over the past two days, but unfortunately it was not to be, with the key hole on Sunday being the par 3 4th.  Mickelson hit a poor tee shot that was made much worse when it hit the grandstands in the air and kicked well left into the woods.  From in the deep woods Phil had extreme difficulty in trying to get the ball out, and eventually went on to make a triple bogey 6.  Even with the disappointing hole Mickelson still had a chance to win the event if he had a solid back nine, but could only get birdies on the two par 5’s for a 72 to finish two shots out of the playoff.

Overall, it was a well-played tournament for Phil Mickelson, who was able to claw his way back after a disappointing start to the week to finish in a tie for third.