Mickelson’s spirited run falls short as Steele wins
Four days earlier, tournament host Johnny Miller greeted Phil Mickelson behind the 18th green after his pro-am round. They chatted briefly, a Hall of Famers summit, and then Mickelson unequivocally declared, “I’ll be there Sunday.” And he was right. Mickelson did plant himself in contention down the stretch in this Safeway Open. But he didn’t win, again. So when Miller met Mickelson in practically the same spot after Sunday’s final round, the conversation was more about consolation than congratulations.
Brendan Steele earned his second consecutive victory in Napa, on a warm, windy day at Silverado Resort. Steele shot 69 to take a two-stroke victory and the winner’s check of more than $1.1 million.
Still, the most compelling
story — the player who held the rapt attention of another large crowd — was Mickelson. He remains golf ’s biggest thrill ride, an intoxicating mix of wayward drives, mind-blowing curveballs around trees, feathery flop shots and putting that bounces from extraordinary to erratic.
“In the old days, he would have won that or been in a playoff,” Miller said moments after Mickelson completed his final-round 70. “But he still had a good run. He’s right: He’s playing better golf.”
Mickelson is 47 now, his golf legacy secure and his game still sharp enough to compete on the PGA Tour. He also hasn’t won in 91 consecutive starts, dating to his memorable British Open triumph in July 2013.
That’s an uncommonly long stretch for a player with 42 career wins, including five majors. There’s only one reasonable conclusion: Age is a powerful force.
Miller understands the challenge of trying to win a tour event in your late 40s. He collected his 25th and final tour victory less than three months before turning 47, at Pebble Beach in February 1994.
Not surprisingly, Miller’s armchair analysis involved the psychological as much as the physical.
“A lot of it is the stuff in between your ears, and then the other thing is how good your reflexes and nerve endings are,” he said. “You’re just not quite as good as you get older, with the nerves. …
“Phil’s trying so hard, prob- ably too hard. It’s like Jack Nicklaus said when he won the Masters at 46: The wins are harder and harder when you get to around that age.
“You’ve got to be a great player to win in your late 40s. But Phil’s got the short game, and his iron game is way underrated.”
Mickelson mostly needs to corral his ever-wild tee shots. Silverado’s firm, narrow fairways were difficult to hit, no question, but Mickelson still struggled — 3-for-14 on Sunday and 15-for-56 for the week.
When he did crush one straight and true on No. 16, he turned to the gallery and sarcastically said, “Let’s take a moment to admire the fact that I just hit a fairway.” Nice touch.
hurt his chances by playing the front nine in 1-over 37. He inched back into the hunt with birdies on Nos. 10, 13 and 16, leaving him one shot off the lead.
The crowd roared louder and louder with every birdie, a none-too-subtle reminder to Steele, Tony Finau and other players in contention. Steele, playing one group behind Mickelson, heard the noise — and he knew the final holes were prime scoring opportunities.
“I was thinking, ‘Phil might go 3-3-3 or something crazy and just blow everybody out of the water,’ ” Steele said.
Mickelson, alas, missed the fairway on No. 17 (with an iron), a short par-4, and ultimately missed his 8-foot putt for par. That essentially eliminated him, with Steele avoiding similar mistakes.
The putt offered a telling snapshot; those are the putts Mickelson (or any player) must make to win.
“It was fun to be in the mix,” he said. “I’m going to keep giving myself good chances and it will happen.”
He heads to China this month for a World Golf Championship event on a Shanghai course where he has won twice. Or maybe he can win at Torrey Pines, near his San Diego home. Or maybe at Pebble Beach, where he’s a fourtime champ.
It will only become harder and harder as 20-something players parade onto the scene.
“Phil might have a win or two left in him,” Miller said, “but it’s going to be tough.”
“In the old days, he would have won that or been in a playoff. But he still had a good run.” Legend Johnny Miller, on Phil Mickelson finishing tied for third