Phil Mickelson, the six-time major winner, signaled his unwavering golfing prowess at the LIV Golf event in Hong Kong where he finished third, just four strokes behind the champion Sergio Garcia. This feat came as a surprise to many, especially considering Mickelson’s lackluster performance in the previous year’s LIV standings, which had prompted discussions about his best days being behind him.
In a remarkable turn of events, Mickelson, known fondly within the golfing community as the ‘legendary lefty,’ proved his critics wrong by showing he could still hold his own in the face of stiff competition from younger, big hitters such as Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, and Joaquin Niemann. This comeback is credited to the significant tweaks he made to his game during the off-season, which saw him reduce errors and improve his overall performance.
At 54, Mickelson demonstrated the successful execution of his new game plan by dropping a mere shot on the final day of the Hong Kong event. Despite this near-victory, he disclosed plans to further refine his approach in anticipation of the upcoming Sentosa event in Singapore.
The Sentosa tournament, scheduled to kick-off on March 14th, will see Mickelson making strategic changes to his club set-up and possibly even his golf ball. This is in response to the unique challenges posed by the Sentosa course, located at the southernmost point of continental Asia.
“We need more length,” Mickelson acknowledged, hinting at modifications to his club set-up and a possible switch from the Callaway Elyte driver he used with considerable success in Adelaide. “I’ll probably go to one and get a little bit more pop because Sentosa, there’s a lot of drives you want to hit bombs, about five of them, and then there’s a lot of holes that aren’t driver,” he added.
Mickelson’s sterling performance in Hong Kong was nothing short of remarkable. Had he clinched the win, it would have ranked among one of golf’s most inspiring tales, especially considering that Mickelson, who became the oldest major winner in 2021, was up against younger competitors like Rahm and DeChambeau.
But the real challenge lies ahead. Mickelson has to maintain this level of consistency and prove that the tactics he employed in Hong Kong can be replicated in LIV’s more rigorous venues, such as JCB, Sentosa, and Valderrama.
Mickelson’s commitment to his physical fitness, despite his age, deserves commendation. He has managed to defy the odds by staying at the top of his game and competing against players nearly half his age, a testament to his determination and resilience.
Following the Sentosa event, the LIV tour will proceed to Doral, marking the final stop before the much-anticipated Masters Tournament at Augusta National gets underway.