Phil Mickelson enters Masters as the favourite – Masters News
Philip Alfred Mickelson, well known as Phil Mickelson, has already captured the limelight of the Masters starting from tomorrow in Augusta, Georgia. He certainly has a reason behind it, as Phil is coming off a fantastic victory in last week’s Shell Houston
Open. The win puts his name among the players in contention for the Masters title.
It has always been about the green jacket which the champion wears after winning. Phil is the defending champion of this tournament and will try to put up a great show. The American golfer is currently enjoying his brilliant form as his swing is in great
shape.
Mickelson has three green jackets and an impressive record playing this major tournament. Phil also jumped in the official world rankings after his first win this season. He currently holds the number third spot in the world golf rankings.
World number five, Graeme McDowell during his interview said, “It seems that everyone has pretty much got Mickelson in the green jacket Sunday evening and there’s not much use in turning up at this point. He’s a great player around Augusta, and if you finish
ahead of him, you’ve got a decent chance.”
Mickelson is also confident of showing his class on one of his favourite courses. The Augusta National has always suited him, as the fast greens and the soft fairways will be waiting for Phil to tee off on Thursday.
The 40-year-old veteran loves playing competitive golf. Once he is on the field, all he thinks about is carding an under-par round. His last three outings here in this major have been successful ones, as Mickelson has been among the top-5 finishers from
2008, winning the silverware last year.
The four-time green jacket holder Tiger Woods is still not in contention for this major. Woods has won the Masters four times and still has a slight chance of starting his campaign.
Mickelson will be cherishing his memories of the last year’s final round where he truly dominated against with Lee Westwood. Last year, he started the final day from behind and went on to win the Championship with some fantastic shots. Phil still remembers
his second shot on the par-5, 13th which completely changed things around for him.
The American golfer said, “I felt like that golf was in me this year, but I haven’t been getting it out. I haven’t had the same type of mental focus throughout the round that I expect. So to be able to have that type of performance heading into here feels
very good.”
The Shell Houston Open proved out to be a confidence booster for the player. Mickelson was steady in his first two rounds. He had a score of sixteen-under par on the weekend which led him to victory.
Mickelson has worked hard with his coach, Butch Harmon. Harmon expects his student to successfully defend his title this year also.