Gutsy Mickelson in masterful form
WGC-CA Championship winner Phil Mickelson believes he is now on track for a third Masters victory following his success at Doral last night.
Hours after receiving intravenous solutions to combat heat exhaustion and dehydration, a virus-hit Mickelson landed the 36th PGA Tour victory of his career and a second title in three starts when he held off overnight co-leader Nick Watney by one stroke.
With the Masters coming up in four weeks, twice champion Mickelson feels his game in on course to deliver once again at Augusta National.
“It feels great to have won here, because I knew that I was playing some good golf heading into here,” Mickelson said.
“It feels great because I’m starting my Masters run to Augusta. This is all part of the process.
“I enjoy this process of competing, being in the final group, tied for the lead, against a player who is playing some terrific golf, feeling that pressure, feeling that intensity, and how important each shot is throughout the entire round.
“All of that adds to helping me, or whoever, play better in the majors.
“And, as well, being able to come out on top in a World Golf Championships where we have the best players in the world here competing – those are the reasons that it feels so good.”
Mickelson revealed he had hardly eaten over the last three days but had finally decided to go to the hospital on Saturday night, with his caddie Jim ’Bones’ McKay and tournament director Eddie Carbone escorting him.
“I was shaking for an hour,” he said. “I had the cold sweats.
“So I was in bed for a half hour shaking. I took a hot shower and that didn’t do it, a hot bath, and almost burned myself trying to get warmed up.
“That’s when I decided to go.”
He added: “They (McKay and Carbone) were banging on my door. I didn’t know this when I was in the bathtub and couldn’t hear them.
“They almost broke the door down – they thought I had passed out, because I’ve done that quite a bit in the past. I’m very lucky to have a guy like Bones with me.”
With Tiger Woods, who in his first stroke-play tournament in nine months following reconstructive knee surgery finished in a tie for ninth, seven shots in arrears, Mickelson was asked if he was concerned the world number one would be back at the peak of his powers sooner than many people expected.
“I don’t think anybody is concerned about that,” Mickelson said. “He’s the greatest player of all time arguably, he or Jack (Nicklaus), and he’ll get back to that level.
“I’m hoping it’s in five weeks and not four.”
