Good timing for Mickelson's improved short game

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Sep. 26, 2009
By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM Chief of Correspondents

ATLANTA -- It wasn't a Marty McFly spin in the "Back to the Future" trilogy or anything like that.

But Phil Mickelson's retro return to the putting stroke he used as a kid clearly has him enthused about playing golf again -- and it showed in Saturday's round of 66 that moved him within four strokes of the lead at THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola.

Mickelson is 4 under through 54 holes, four strokes behind Kenny Perry, two back of Tiger Woods and tied with Sean O'Hair entering the final round. A win Sunday would be his third in a difficult and draining season, during which both his wife, Amy, and mother, Mary, have been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Saturday, though, was another confidence builder for the world No. 3, who last sniffed the top 10 when he finished runner-up at the U.S. Open at Bethpage. He used just 27 putts and is tied for second in that category this week.

"It was a fun day," Mickelson acknowledged. "I made a good number of putts, hit the ball well and gave myself chances and ended up making some, so it was a really fun round to get back into it."

But Mickelson, who won THE TOUR Championship in 2000, knows East Lake is hardly a pushover. So instead of focusing on a really low round, he thinks another 66 or a 65 might be enough to enable him to overtake the leaders.

"It's been a few months (since I've been in contention), mainly because of my putting," Mickelson said. "Again, I look back on Thursday, where I threw six shots away from three holes, otherwise I'd be leading.

"But to come back the way I have and play the way I have -- I feel like I'm playing some really good golf -- that no matter how many shots back I am, I think I'll still be a factor."

Mickelson credits the two days he spent with Champions Tour veteran Dave Stockton last week with getting his putter on track. He went back to putting with his hands ahead and immediately regained his comfort zone.

"It's been a while (since I felt this good with the putter)," Mickelson said. "Even when I made putts at Doral this year or made putts at L.A., I mean, when I'm walking up to the green here, I don't care if it's 4 feet or 40 feet, I feel like I should make it."

Just because he's getting advice from Stockton, Mickelson said it doesn't mean that he and short game guru Dave Pelz won't continue to work together. In fact, he plans to see Pelz next week before heading to The Presidents Cup.

"We've never worked on technique, Dave (Pelz) and I, and Dave has been very helpful on what and how to practice around the holes," Mickelson said. "But to hear Stockton reinforce the technique that I've always putted with, which was hands ahead, hitting almost it feels like down on it, even though it's not, even though the hands continue low, keeping the face more square going back, not letting it open, (has been important).

"I've gone right back to the way I putted as a kid. It feels great."

Mickelson feels the inconsistent putting that has plagued him off and on over the last two years has taken away from the progress he and Butch Harmon have made with his swing.

"I've hit the ball so well, and yet my scores haven't reflected that," Mickelson said. "And now you're starting to see the distance that I've increased, the accuracy, not so far off fairways, the iron shots, all the stuff that Butch and I have worked on, you'll start to see the results because the putter is now where it should be."

Mickelson planned to head to Athens Saturday night to watch his alma mater, Arizona State, play Georgia between the hedges. Sunday morning, though, he'll be back at East Lake trying to win for the first time since March.

"It would be cool," Mickelson said. "I don't have a chance at the FedExCup because too much stuff has to happen, guys that are playing well. It won't. It's not important for me.

"I just feel great about the way this week has gone. I'm excited when I show up on the course. I'm having fun. And I'm starting to score a little better, which is nice."