OK, he’s under investigation. That’s all. No big deal, right? No perp walk yet for Phil. But somehow, in our collective consciences, that’s not what’s eating us about Phil Mickelson.
The thing that disappoints us the most about Phil is he looks like the guy from HR in the company golf outing when he gets a putter in his hands. What is going on? Phil was the cocky young kid who in the U.S. Amateur twenty-odd years ago, gave his opponent a twelve-foot par put only to then can his own seven footer for birdie and a one up lead after one hole. Message sent. The boy could roll his rock.
But our Phil is not a skinny, golly-gosh 20-year-old anymore. He’s a 44-year-old with years of “golf brain damage.” Instead of seeing the makes, he is reliving the misses. Bad thinking is what’s turned Phil into an over-analytical, by-the-numbers robot with a short circuit. He’s fallen in love with technique and cast “feel” away like some spurned lover. There is nothing of the old Phil on the greens and we all miss him.
Last year’s win at the British Open (oh, excuse me, The Open Championship) was evidence that Phil can alter his thinking and recapture his mojo. He had nothing but bad experiences at the British, but changed his ‘tude and rode it to a solid victory. He needs a ‘tude adjustment now. No, he needs an overhaul. Pull the engine, oil the gears, and put the pedal down. Stop with the analysis and get on with being Phil.
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