It was hardly a stage comparable to the final round of the Masters in the theater that is Augusta National. Not when it’s a Tuesday round on the PGA Tour Champions. But like his famous shot on Sunday 13 en route to his 2010 Masters win, Phil Mickelson pulled off another magical forest escape in the second round of the Charles Schwab Series at the Ozarks National.
It was made even better because Lefty – coming out of his opening round of 61 – had a bizarre violation of the rules and used his own chauffeur – yes, chauffeur! – from pine needles to make a little bird while trying to extend the lead in his early career The champions begin.
Mickelson hit his par-5 ninth drive under a big tree and his ball landed on some roots. Being left-handed, he was almost unable to swing, but found that a string was hanging from the tree. (Yes, he used the old defense of grounding wire from loose lightning!) The wire, which should have been fully attached to the tree, interfered with any wobble Mickelson might feel – “I’ll get hurt, potentially,” Mickelson said pleading his case – and the rules official agreed he could take action without penalty.
He did and, after analyzing the shot, he said to the caddy and his brother Tim: “Give me the driver.” With a half swing, he took the ball out and it landed just before the bunker in front of the green. From there, he went up and down a little bird that was his fifth on the top nine.
Of course Phil is never too far from the drama. In the next hole, Mickelson made a notable bugbear. He hit another wild tee shot with his driver in high fescue and after a search the ball was not found. He went back to the tee, put a 3-wood in the fairway, hit the green and saved a bogey.
It’s stuff like this that will make Phil beg to be there every week.
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