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Devil Ball Golf

Thu Dec 31 02:30pm EST

Snapping irons: A look back at Phil Mickelson's 2009

By Jay Busbee

We're at the end of the 2009 season, and we're taking a look back at how the top 20 on the money list fared. Next up: Phil Mickelson.

Coming into 2009: Phil Mickelson has always been everybody's favorite punching bag simply because he had the misfortune to be playing in the Time of Tiger. Had he been born ten years earlier, he'd be immortal; as it is, he's a sidekick. Still, he's always right on the verge of busting through, and it'll be interesting to see if he can hold it together this year when the road is open wide before him.

High-water mark: Mickelson closed a devastating personal year with two outstanding victories in Atlanta at the Tour Championship and in Shanghai at the HSBC Champions. He looked pretty much unbeatable in both, facing down the entire stacked field, including You-Know-Who. Considering how his year had gone to that point, it was nothing less than a miraculous turnaround.

The low point: Early in the season, Mickelson learned that his wife Amy had breast cancer, and soon afterward learned that his mother had been diagnosed with the same disease. He immediately left the Tour, and returned only for the U.S. Open, which ended in disappointing fashion -- he had a chance to win, but fell short with only a couple holes remaining.

Outlook for 2010: Golf is wide-open now with Tiger Woods out of the picture, and nobody is poised to take more advantage of that than Mickelson. He's playing some outstanding golf, putting as well as he ever has. But the problem for Mickelson is twofold -- first, he's historically wilted in pressure situations (he had this chance when Tiger was out with an injury last year, remember) and worse, no matter what he does, he'll still be compared to Tiger. If he wins big in 2010, it'll be because Tiger wasn't there to challenge him -- or so the hack reasoning will go. That's unfair -- but it's a burden I think Phil could live with if he brings home a couple majors.

Related Phil Mickelson posts from 2009:
Phil Mickelson channels his inner Obi-Wan Kenobi
Phil Mickelson produces a flawless Sunday gem at East Lake
Phil Mickelson, time traveler?
Phil might win a major ... a major Waffle House deal

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