Mickelson still U.S. mainstay

Lefty tees offff in 23rd straight national teamevent today.

JERSEYCITY, N.J.— Phil Mickelson is the voice of experience in team competition, and there’s no comparison.

He was on the putting green Wednesday morning at the Presidents Cup, explaining to some of the six rookies on the American team why the teams might change for the fifinal day of practice, the schedule after the team photo, just about anything short of howto tie their shoes.

Mickelson has played in the Presidents Cup every year since it began in 1994. He has playedinevery Ryder Cup since 1995. Add them up and this will be his 23rd consecutive time playing in a team event.

For someone like PGA champion Justin Thomas, playing in his fifirst one, that can be hard to fathom.

“I can’t, especiallybecause I was 1 when he playing in his fifirst one, which is really crazyto think,” Thomas said. “I would love to see what kind of person he was then. I’msurehewas still thesame kind of guy. But it’s crazy. To be that goodfor that long and to have the reputation that he does, being that much of a leader, a role model in the

teamrooms ... I don’t know if it will ever be topped.”

Playing on so many Presidents Cup teams has mainly been a happy occasion. The Americanshave lost onlyone of them, in1998 atRoyalMelbourne, and tied the International team in 2003 in South Africa.

The International team, with Nick Price as captain for a third straight time, gets another chance to end a losing streak that is getting out of hand.

We’ve got a lot of power,” Price said. “I’ve always said this — 18-hole match play is anybody’s game.”

It’s been in the American game in this format, and Mickelson always figures

into the equation.

That ultimately might be one of his greatest legacies when the Presidents Cup begins today, and Mickelson heads to the first tee with Kevin Kisner in a foursomes match against Jason Day and Marc Leishman.

It will his 52nd match in thePresidentsCup, and97th match overall in either cup.

His 42 victoriesonthePGA Tour put him at No. 9 on the career list, threebehindWalterHagen. Hehasfifivemajors, including three legs of the career Grand Slam. He has earned just over $83million, second only to TigerWoods. He already is in the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Most unusual about his

career is what he hasn’t done.

Mostly thanks to Tiger Woods, Mickelson has never been No. 1 in the world. He has neverwon thePGATour money title. He has never been voted the PGA Tour player of the year.

Butwhenitcomestoteams — 23 in his case — he has a record that might not be topped for a long time, if ever.

“I think that it will be done,” Mickelson said. “But it’ll be done, I believe, because there’s so many talented players that I believe will have the longevity.

“But right now, it’s something that I’m really proud of.”

GETTY IMAGES Phil Mickelson (right, withMatt Kuchar during practice roundsWednesday) has represented the U.S. in every Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup since 1994.