By Tod Leonard
It wasn’t nearly a stage that compares to the final round of the Masters in the theatre that is Augusta National. Not when it’s a Tuesday round on PGA Tour Champions. But like his famous shot on the 13th on Sunday en route to his 2010 Masters victory, Phil Mickelson pulled off another magical forest escape in the second round of the Charles Schwab Series at Ozarks National.

It was made all the better because Lefty—coming off his opening round of 61—got a bizarre rules break and used his driver—yes, driver!—off pine needles to eventually make birdie as he looked to extend the lead in his first career Champions start.

Mickelson hit his drive at the par-5 ninth under a large tree and his ball settled up against some roots. As a left-hander, he had almost no ability to take a swing, but he discovered that a wire was hanging out of the tree. [Yep, he used the ‘ol loose lightning grounding wire defense!} The wire, which should have been fully attached to the tree, happened to interfere with any swing that Mickelson’s could try—“I’m going to get hurt, potentially,” Mickelson said in pleading his case—and the rules official agreed that he could take relief without a penalty.

And he makes birdie! pic.twitter.com/QMzuN0yTjk

— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) August 25, 2020

He did, and after analysing the shot, he said to caddie and brother Tim, “Give me the driver.” With a half-swing, he punched the ball out and it came up just short of the bunker fronting the green. From there, he got up and down for a birdie that was his fifth on the front nine.

Of course, Phil’s never too far from drama. On the very next hole, Mickelson made a remarkable bogey. He hit another wild tee shot with a 3-wood into high fescue and after a search the ball couldn’t be found. He went back to the tee, striped another 3-wood into the fairway, got on the green and saved a bogey.

It’s stuff like this that will have the Champions tour begging Phil to be out there every week.

The post After a huge rules break, Phil goes full Phil and hits driver off pine straw to make birdie appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Joel Beall
Phil Mickelson announced Friday that he will make his PGA Tour Champions debut on Monday.

Mickelson had completed his second round at the Northern Trust, turning in a three-under 68 at TPC Boston. Unfortunately for Phil, the five-time major winner shot an opening 74, leaving him well outside the cutline as the afternoon wave tees off. The missed cut means Mickelson is out of the FedEx Cup Playoffs, the first time he’s failed to advance to the second round of the postseason in his career.

However, instead of opting for rest with the 2020 U.S. Open a month away, Mickelson said on Twitter Friday afternoon that he will play in next week’s Champions event.

“’I’ve been playing well and I want to play,” Mickelson said on Twitter. “I wish I was playing in Chicago next week but excited to play my first Champions event.”

Mickelson will play at the Charles Schwab Series at Ozarks Nationalin Ridgedale, Mo. Mickelson became eligible for the senior circuit this past June. The event runs from Monday to Wednesday.

Mickelson ends his 2019-20 tour season with a runner-up and third-place finish in 16 starts, but missed the cut in seven of those appearances. He is listed at 150/1 odds for the U.S. Open which returns to Winged Foot, site of Mickelson’s infamous collapse in 2006.

The post Phil Mickelson to make PGA Tour Champions debut Monday after FedEx Cup exit appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.