For those golf fans aching for a behind-the-scenes look into Phil Mickelson’s life, perhaps “The Match” — Mickelson and Tiger Woods’ made-for-TV exhibition — was the best thing that could have happened because it paved the way for the affable left-hander to join social media.
What started as — and likely still is — a public-relations move, Mickelson has taken to social media like a duck to water, posting drills and tips as well as amazing videos like the one he posted prior to his third round at The Masters.
Driving down Magnolia Lane, a member of Team Phil recorded the three-time Masters champ explain that there’s nothing quite like being in contention on the weekend at the first major championship of the season.
However, the best part of the video was the dig Mickelson made at his playing partner, Matt Kuchar.
Weekend at @TheMasters hitting BOMBS ? and attacking pins.
LFG!!! #Lefty pic.twitter.com/yTt0yVJ5tQ— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) April 13, 2019
“I have a great pairing today with Matt Kuchar,” Mickelson said. “Obviously, we’re not going to have any side action today because I’d probably see like .06 percent if I did win. But we’re going to have a great day.”
After poking fun at Kuchar for the much-publicized caddie payment fiasco, Mickelson went on to explain how he was wearing all black, his self-proclaimed “aggressive colors,” and how hitting “bombs” would help him at Augusta National.
“When Dave Pelz ran an analysis on improving every statistical category by 10%, every category led to lower scores except longer drives,” Mickelson said. “There was only one course in the world where longer drives equated to lower scores. That’s right, Augusta National.
The reason is that the shelves are so small, where the pins are, that you’ve got to hit bombs off the tee, to be able to get to those small sections. And that’s what I’m going to do today – hit bombs, and attack the pin here at The Masters.”
Mickelson didn’t have a bad day on Saturday shooting 2-under par 70, but it’s a good thing he and Kuchar didn’t have any side action because it would have been Kuchar who walked away with the cash as he fired a 4-under par 68.
Mickelson sits at 6-under par for the tournament heading into Sunday’s final round, seven shots back of 54-hole leader Francesco Molinari.
