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PGA Championship

Slimmer Mickelson not letting age slow down his game

Steve DiMeglio
USA TODAY Sports
Phil Mickelson hits his second shot on the par-4 2nd hole during the Annexus Pro-Am at the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Keegan Bradley outdrove Phil Mickelson by 30 yards on the 14th hole at TPC Scottsdale during Wednesday's pro-am of the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

"I left him a note in the fairway, letting him know the senior tees are not that far off, so don't get too worked up about it," Bradley said with a laugh.

It's not nice to poke the bear, Mr. Bradley, especially when we're talking about the 44-year-old Mickelson. The 42-time PGA Tour winners, five-time major champion and three-time winner in the Phoenix Open may be getting up there in the eyes of Bradley and others, but his mind is as sharp as ever.

When told of Bradley's boasting, Mickelson had a quick retort. Last week at an event at the Madison Club in La Quinta, Calif., Mickelson and Bradley had a long-drive contest.

"I flew it by him 25 yards. That really bothered him," Mickelson said with a proud smile on his face. "I guess he really hammered one (Wednesday). I had not played the hole before. I just hit a little stock cut just to comfortably get it out there. He was 11 yards by me. If that's what it takes to stroke his ego, then that's what it takes. Had I known that he was going to make a big deal about it, I would have swung a fraction harder and put it past him."

The good-natured back-and-forth aside, Mickelson knows his age is coming into question as his career continues, especially when he suffers from arthritis. And his 2014 was one of his worst years of his PGA Tour career, where he relived 2003 – the last time he went without a victory. Further, he notched just one top-10 – a runner-up finish in the PGA Championship.

But diligently following a better diet the past few years and steadfast in his commitment to getting his body in shape this past offseason, Mickelson, without going into specifics on his weight loss, is a much slimmer version of himself.

And he hasn't lost his power, either, as Bradley found out.

"I feel better than I have in a long time, and I've been able to practice hard and work on my game," Mickelson said. "I think long term, having a little bit less pressure on my joints is going to be good for somebody who's got arthritis.

"I also find that the more I work out, the better I feel and the less symptoms I feel. So I'm excited. I feel better and better."

Mickelson, who opened his 2015 campaign last week with a tie for 24th in the Humana Challenge, tapped into his memory to get himself ready for this year. In 2003, he was winless. In 2004, he had seven top-3s in 22 starts and won twice, including the first major of his career at the Masters.

"After '03 I had a similar situation to last year where I had terrible year, came back in '04 determined to play well, and it was the same type of determination I felt in the offseason this year to get back to the level of play that I know I'm capable of," Mickelson said. " … I feel like my game is where I want it to be. I just have to now shoot the scores. Last week was pretty encouraging. I didn't do all the things I want as well as I believe I can, and yet it was pretty close."

Yet he can't dodge the age old question about his age. He sighed a bit during his press conference when asked if he felt he could win another major. At 44.

"I think that when I play to the level I'm capable of playing, I'm very confident that will be enough," he said. "I had a terrible year last year and I still almost won the PGA. I'm playing a lot better now."

That's not lost on Rickie Fowler, who like Bradley, is a frequent participant in money games during practice rounds with Mickelson.

"He's over the hill," Fowler couldn't resist with a chuckle when asked if Mickelson can still win. " … He's got plenty of fight left in him, that's for sure. There was a past interview that I referred to him as a dad figure of some sort. That didn't settle too well. I don't think he liked that one much.

"But he's definitely taken some younger guys under his wing. … But don't worry, he's still good enough to win out here, that's for sure. He's not going away any time soon."

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