Americans pin their hopes on a resurging Phil Mickelson after his Open Championship performance
While the rest of the major championships for the year succumbed to the young brigade of trailblazing golfers, and while Rory McIlroy ran away with the US Open trophy, mocking at the rest of the field, the leaderboard at the Open Championship at Royal St.
George’s finally restored some sense to the sport.
The difficult Links Golf tested the nerves and skills of the sturdy contingent in the field, which nominated all the continents of world, aspiring to win the most coveted and the oldest event of the sport. The conditions at the course, perhaps, turned out
to be too difficult for the young guns as the grizzled veterans of the sport decided to grab the reigns from there onwards.
Phil Mickelson was one of those seasoned players, who despite of his lackluster form in so far this year, rattled the field with his precision putting and exquisite golf. Mickelson finished for a joint second alongside his countryman Dustin Johnson to card
his best performance in the Open so far.
Many of his fans have cautioned a possible comeback of the once-great Mickelson, who romped to victory for three times at the Masters, a course often referred to his favourite hunting ground.
“Oh, man, that was some of the most fun I've had competitively. It was really a fun start, and it was exciting. You know, it was one of those times where you're not thinking birdie and things were just happening,” said Mickelson.
The 41-year-old Californian started of the year with some sloppy hitting and carded scores which were unusual of the left-handed golfer, sending shivers that the last American hope is also dwindling. He came back with a whopping victory at the Shell Houston
Open in a bid to prepare for his defense at the Masters. Although the player failed to retain the green jacket, he found new hope in his form and putting.
Mickelson opened up his final round at the Open carding consecutive birdies and a glorious eagle on the front nine as the crowd warmed up to his charge. He was edging up the summit as Darren Clarke, who eventually won the event, pulled in an eagle to regain
his lead but the audience zoomed-in on Mickelson as he made the turn, only to start off of what would be one of the most disappointing back nines in his career.
“You know, it was just -- it was exciting because I felt like I had played the back side better throughout the week and I really felt like there was going to be some easier pars for me on the back, and when I had to try and make some birdies is when I ended
up making a few mistakes,” said Mickelson.
He stumbled on no fewer than four bogeys, closing the title with two-under, 68, trailing Clarke by three shots.
The Americans have fallen behind the ranks after Tiger Woods’ lingering vows are now seeping into the third consecutive year, and the dearth of young rising golfers has quite often been a point of discussion among the big wigs of the sport.
For the moment, however, Mickelson continues to lead the pack from the front, driving all his energies into the game, and remains one of the most iconic contemporary golfers of the sport.
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