Posted by Kevin O'Hara.
Mickleson gets his 2012 season back on track as he took advantage of a shaky Tiger.
The 2012 season had not begun as Phil Mickelson had hoped with no finishes in the top ten and his best finish being a T-26 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open a week ago, but it appears that Phil is back on track in a big way after an extremely impressive come from behind win at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am this weekend. Trailing by 6 shots to the 54-hole leader Charlie Wi, Phil was able to put together an 8-under 64 to take the field by storm and win by three strokes.
Partnered with Mickelson was Tiger Woods, who was the overwhelming favorite in Las Vegas for the tournament and since Vegas has electricity bills to pay, you figured Tiger would be in for a great week. After finishing third in his season debut at Abu Dhabi after shooting an even par final round, Tiger was looking to have a final round that will allow for him to return to winners circle, but that was not to be. For the first time in a long time the talk during the week was less about Tiger’s knee and more about his swing and how it had appeared that everything was figured out. While his swing was on point, his short game was atrocious and cost him a chance at winning on Sunday.
Tiger had not played Pebble Beach for a non-major in ten years which was shocking due to the success he has had there, but it was not to be and Sunday put a stamp on a second consecutive tournament that Tiger was leading or in the hunt and let it slip away on Sunday. What made Tiger so great in the past was not only his ability on the course, but the ridiculous mental edge that he had over everyone else in the field, forcing them to fear him even if he wasn’t on the first page of the leaderboard because they knew he could make a run. I am as big a Tiger fan as you will find, and although I do not feel that these Sunday woes will continue, it is very un-Tigerlike to give up these types of opportunities. My prediction still stands…Tiger wins two majors this year.
When paired together, after Mickelson’s win, the record is now tied at 13-13-4, but Phil has finished higher than Tiger every time since 2007, having won three of those times. There is no debating it, Phil plays better when he is with Tiger, and he certainly has found his groove playing head to head over the past five years.
So, Phil Mickelson won $1 million this weekend and gets to go home to his smokin’ hot wife… how was your weekend?
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