ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Last month at the Masters, Phil Mickelson, buoyed by his runner-up finish, forecasted big things for himself.
“I’m going to go on a tear pretty soon,’’ he said after his final round at Augusta National. “I’m ready to go on a tear.”
That hasn’t happened.
Mickelson hasn’t distinguished himself in three LIV Golf events since Augusta, finishing 16th, 15th and 45th.
And at this week’s PGA Championship, which Mickelson won two years ago at Kiawah Island, he’s been disappointed with the way he’s played, following an opening-round 73 with a 72 on Friday to stand at 5-over.
It was just enough for him to make the cut and play the weekend, but Mickelson is 10 shots out of the lead.
“I came in here very optimistic,’’ Mickelson said Friday. “The first two days, I’ve played terrible. I’ve driven it poorly. I’ve not felt good with the putter. I haven’t chipped great. My irons have been average. It makes me optimistic that I still made the cut playing as poorly as I did, and I think if I can get it turned around, I can make a run.’’
Mickelson, always the optimist, said he’s “just a fraction off.’’
“This is as bad as I’ve played in a long time, and yet I’m still here on the weekend, and I have a chance to turn it around,’’ he said. “The course is there to have a good low number if I play really well. I think if I can get … it’s not far off. If I can just get it to click, I have a chance to make a run.’’
Oak Hill has historic relevance for Mickelson, who played his first Ryder Cup on the golf course and who nearly won the 2003 PGA before being defeated by Shaun Micheel.
“This has been a very special place,’’ he said. “This was my fourth championship I’ve played here. Playing a Ryder Cup here and having it be my first one was very special. It’s just a great golf course and a great place to play. I really enjoy it.’’
Mickelson raved about the setup of this week’s PGA despite the fact he’s been beaten up by it.
“It’s a great setup. It’s one of the best I’ve seen,’’ he said. “It’s just a good, hard, fair test. What I really like about it is a lot of the greens are open in front. You can run a shot up if you get in a little bit of trouble, which I think makes it very fair. I think it’s an incredible test.
“The fairways are repellent, but the rough is fair, and the fairway widths are fair. You’ve just got to hit good shots.’’