Golf: We can rebuild him

By Ryan Ballengee Sports Central Columnist

Phil Mickelson made his 2004 PGA Tour debut this week in the California desert at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. Arriving to the course in what he calls the best shape of his life, Mickelson came with a new physique, but also a new mindset.

Phil, who revealed a very trying personal year last year with the birth of his third child, has re-committed himself to professional success. Having cinched security in his personal life again allowed Mickelson to come back to the game with a renewed vigor to be the best in the world.

What critics and the Mickelson faithful were concerned about was Phil's terrible percentage of fairways hit in '03. He hit the fairway barely more than half of the time, which automatically translates into no wins. Even a man who is as exciting to see play golf as is possible cannot turn substandard performances into amazing victories.

The fear was not that Mickelson would return this season with the same aggressive style he sported in the past. Rather, the overriding concern with Mickelson's game was that he would continue to sacrifice steady and consistent play for flashes of brilliance with limited results.

The trimmer Mickelson also may have done an overhaul of his mental approach to the game. On the golf course, Phil demonstrated an ability to control his reckless urges and to play for the safe shot. Many times, Mickelson used a 1-iron to place the ball in the fairway, despite his known hatred for sacrificing distance for accuracy. The near 70% of fairways hit by Mickelson this week was a standout statistic in his victory over Skip Kendall in the playoff.

Another example of the perhaps new-minded lefty was on the back stretch on Sunday afternoon, at the par-5 14th. After seeing his main chasers in the group ahead of him fail to make birdie, Mickelson wisely chose to avoid going for the green in two. He instead laid up to a safe distance and pitched from 100 yards to within a dozen feet.

From there, he successfully three-putted for bogey, but, he made a wise play, nonetheless. It can't be said that it contributed to his eventual victory, but it is an indicator that Mickelson is thinking with his brain and not his heart.

But both Mickelsons, the old and new renditions, have played well at the Hope. Mickelson last won the event in 2002, in a playoff, as well. The similarities between the victories are obvious.

So, then, that leaves the question: does the new Phil Mickelson, slightly refined, play better than the Phil we have come to know, love, and writhe in agony over? It will take many more weeks of exposure to the new Phil to see for certain.

The ultimate test of willpower for Mickelson will come at the Masters in April, though. Mickelson finished third there last year, and for the first time in a major failed to collapse on Sunday, coming up just short of the playoff.

Augusta National will be the first course that Mickelson encounters this year that will truly require a strong commitment to prudence. Until then, with the exception of Riviera, Mickelson will be able to wildly miss fairways, play aggressively, and still shoot a very solid number.

It will not be until the majors season, when the usual pressure is applied to Mickelson, will the golfing public see if a metamorphosis has been completed.

If Mickelson can temper his desperation to quell his critics and his personal critiques, then he may come away with his most successful season as a professional. But, if this is a one time display of the Phil Mickelson that could have been for all of his dozen years on tour, then we all should be glad to have seen it, even if only one time.

Article courtesy of Sports Central.