In each of the last three years, Phil Mickelson has won his first PGA Tour event of the season in his fourth start. This week's Phoenix Open will be Mickelson's fourth start this year. Time to start putting money on Mick?
Well, maybe. He won't be short of support, at least; the Waste Management Phoenix Open, to give the tournament its full, if less than grand title, takes place in Scottsdale Arizona and is renowned for the massive crowds it attracts. In 2008, the Phoenix set a PGA Tour single day attendance record when more than 170,000 fans turned up on the Saturday.
Whether they'll see Mickelson in imperious form is still in doubt. With Tiger Woods absent for obvious reasons, the Californian started this season as the main reason to watch the PGA Tour, at least according to the publicity. It's not panned out that way so far, however.
Whether it's just that Mickelson is making a slow start, or the 39-year-old has been overwhelmed by his status as Tiger's replacement, he hasn't made a great impression thus far. In fact in his first three tournaments this season Mick has managed to drop from world No. 2 to No. 3, swapping places with countryman Steve Stricker.
That could prove to be a temporary turnaround - Mickelson has twice before been champion here at the Phoenix, in 1996 and 2005. The player feels he's been hitting the ball reasonably well this season, but recognises his errant putting has so far left him off the pace. That's something he's hoping to address this week, hopefully with some encouragement from the fans.
The TPC Scottsdale course has a boisterous fanbase at the best of times, featuring what's reputedly the noisiest hole in golf, the 16th, where throngs of enthusiastic aficionados surround either side of the hole, cheering on their favourites and booing the players who aren't up to scratch. Already a favourite here, let's hope Mickelson's putts don't let him or the fans down this week.
Other players likely to draw attention will be last week's Match Play champion Ian Poulter, who will doubtless be showing off his latest outfit as well as his latest skills. Germany's Martin Kaymer is also back in action here, and PGA Tour veteran Kenny Perry, last year's champ, will be defending his title.
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