Phil Mickelson feeling better after frustrating year

Phil Mickelson is back at a place he loves, mostly out of the funk he has endured for 18 months.

The three-time Masters Tour­na­­ment champion returned to Au­gus­ta seeking better results than last year, when he missed the Masters cut for the first time in 17 years.

“I think driving down Magnolia Lane is rejuvenating. It gives me a new energy,” he said. “I think that energy helps me work hard, play hard, and focus better and play my best.”

The 44-year-old is starting to play better after overcoming what he described as muscle tightness in his back last year that led to his posting no wins and just one top-10 finish – the fewest showings in a season since he turned pro in 1992.

Lefty said he is in better physical condition and is 0.able to swing the club without any discomfort.

“The last year and a half has not been my best,” he said. “It’s been terrible.

“Feels like it’s slowly getting better, and the last couple of weeks for me because I got my aggressive play back, I got a lot of birdies again. That’s what I kind of needed to do first to kind of get my game back is to start making birdies again.”

Mickelson has made five of seven cuts this year, with a pair of top-20 finishes. Last week, he found himself back in contention late in the third round of the Houston Open before closing with three consecutive bogeys. He finished in a tie for 17th place.

“It was a great feeling being in contention heading into the weekend in Houston, and that was actually important for me,” he said. “I didn’t perform on the weekend the way I wanted to, but it
was big for me to feel that nervousness again and to see how close I was.”

As for this week, Mickelson said he’s unsure whether his game is in order for him to make a run at a fourth green jacket. But don’t be surprised if he plays much better than he did a year ago, when he posted rounds of 76-73 for an early exit from Augusta.

“I don’t know if it will be in time for this week. I certainly hope so,” he said. “I believe it is, but we’ll see.”