LESSONS FROM LEFTY Vol. 2
Phil’s back! This time offering us a tutorial and a short video that provides us with some insight into his eccentric putting game. Mickelson demonstrates how to slice and draw the ball while maintaining a natural structural form. The trick is in the way Lefty tweaks the mechanics of his forearm, wrists, and feet ever so slightly on the fly depending on the scenario he finds himself in. Clearly, this is a man who suffers absolutely 0 fear when facing a daunting shot, making Mickelson one of the most daring, creative and confident golfers of his generation.
Although he’s been labeled a bit of an adventurer when it comes to shot selection, there is certainly a method to his quirky madness. Mickelson views the golf course through a Matrix-like lens, in which the dirt is green, water hazards don’t exist, and jumping into the maw of a quadruple bogey is nothing to worry about.
In Phil’s World: Life is too short…
AN APPROACH FROM THE LEFT
Mickelson has always been held with lore within the pga tour community with numerous peers opining on his “creative” putting game over the years. after an extended period of time, things began to stabilize. Always flexible and never rattled, Mickelson’s ability to make constant adjustments in the middle of events actually speaks more to his high golf I.Q.
Set-up
- Phil’s feet are just under shoulder-width apart at address, with ball position in line with his right heel
- He tilts his upper body slightly away from the target to retain his desired loft at impact for an optimum roll
- He places his hands on the club with the palms facing each other. Both thumbs run straight down the front of the grip, with his right index finger overlapping the fingers on his left hand
Stroke
Phil starts his stroke with a forward press of the hands, which gets them ahead of the ball and takes a little loft off the putter
LEFTY’S ADJUSTMENT BUREAU
Known for his unconventional use the claw grip for short putts and a conventional grip for everything else, Mickelson once said that the claw helped take his lower hand out of the stroke on short ones and produce a “softer hit.”
“I start every ball on line, and I feel like on short putts, it’s more effective…Once the stroke gets a little bit longer than a certain point, I start to lose some of that feel and touch. But there’s so much better extension, and it’s such a softer hit without having that bottom hand on the club like I like it.”
–Lefty
PHIL INC.
A BONUS LESSON: HOW TO MAKE MONEY (ONCE ESTABLISHED ON THE PGA TOUR)
Lefty’s ALWAYS printing money. In 2015, Mickelson topped the golf world in earnings, clocking in at a cool $50.8M, edging out Tiger Woods by $200K. Of his total earnings, $48M came from endorsements. Never shy to take a poke at himself, Mickelson’s side hustle as a brand ambassador, to anyone who will meet his ruthless price, has actually exposed some pretty entertaining material (see Lefty’s “Dance” Lessons in Vol.1…)
Mickelson averages $40M annually from appearances and endorsements with notable partners that include: Callaway, Barclays, KPMG, Exxon Mobile, Rolex and Amgen.
As a competitor, 5-time major champion Phil Mickelson’s playing style is described by many as “aggressive.” His strategy toward difficult shots (bad lies, obstructions) would tend to be considered risky
Mickelson turned back the clock this Sunday in his final round at the World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational, Phil Mickelson hit 9 of 14 fairways and 12 of 18 greens in regulation, and finished the day without a bogey. Mickelson finished the PGA Championship tune-up tied for 2nd at 10-under
Current FedEx Cup Points Leader Justin Thomas (1, 843 pts) hoisting the PGA Championship in 2017
