Pelz says Mickelson will make 2013, critics not so hopeful
Season ’13 is round the next bend and for most of this year, Phil Mickelson has been down with psoriatic arthritis, only just recovering in time for the season’s last playoffs.
The chronic skin condition has been cited as the cause for the adverse plummet in the player’s otherwise notably classy performances.
However, it is finally said to be under control now, having had plagued a previous full year of what might have been a jump or two in the OWGR standings.
Dave Pelz, Mickelson’s longtime coach, has been supportive of the San Diego-based golfer’s ambitions, predicting he will go the distance come 2013.
“His ball striking is the best it’s ever been and if he can begin to make a few more putts – and stop tinkering with his stroke – then he will have the best year of his career,” said Pelz in an exclusive interview to Golf.com “Mickelson’s best years are
ahead of him”.
Pelz is known for his published works on short games and putting techniques. Promoting his latest book, Dave Pelz's Putting Games, he has said that Mickelson needs to work on both areas of his game.
The need became more pressing especially after Lefty’s brush with the inflammatory-foot experience.
Pelz describes his book as making practice fun and convenient - thus taking the practice out of practice. –
The author hopes to introduce the amateur as well as the professional players to the newly discovered “Easy-Access” approach to learning better putting techniques.
The book is as much intended for Mickelson, to whom he has dedicated it, as to the common reader. The more you play, the better you putt, Mickelson.
Pelz looks like he is on to something, predicting Lefty would, in the coming months, step it up and become part of the conversation once more.
There are others, too, hopeful to see the golfer becoming the entire discussion! Some conjecture caps it at two major wins through fifteen tournaments, moving him up to OWGR’s #2 man.
He is expected to rise past Tiger Woods, who hopefully will not be getting any pity picks for the President’s Cup this time round.
By mid 2014, Lefty at 44, would be world number one, hopefully having had, by that time, picked up two more Open majors.
This streak, whilst adding to his career 4 Grand Slams will also serve to raise him clear of the competition in that particular statistic (the competition here meaning Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus!)
Okay, Dave, however impressive that sounds, we are not entirely convinced. And here’s why:
Although Mickelson’s performances can be forgiven, courtesy skin-disease, his play has begun to rust of late, despite earnings soaring at $4.2 million.
Mickelson, like Ernie Els before him, and Darren Clarke before Els, has the talent, provided everything aligns itself on a given weekend.
There is a host of talented players out there, all vying for the top perch. If Mickelson hopes to retain his crown, he needs to put up a performance in 2013.
His driving accuracy stands out like a sore thumb when it comes to competition with other younger players, who can drive the ball stronger and further than he can.
It will not be wrong to assume that Phil Mickelson’s glory days may as well be far behind him.
“He is a Ceremonial Golfer now who, if he’s lucky, might find a Level 40 Golf Tournament per year that he can win. His days of winning Majors are over,” say certain critics.
“This is a smoke screen floated by Dave Pelz. Phil's problem is off the tee. He ranked a measly 174th in driving accuracy off the tee on the PGA Tour this year. Butch Harnmon has failed to fix Phil's golf swing. Putting? He can still putt with the best of
them. We ain't buying what Dave Pelz is smoking...”
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and in no way represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
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