by JC Campbell

Created on: November 17, 2008   Last Updated: January 07, 2009

Winning a "major" tournament is the holy grail in the world of golf and it has become the yardstick for determining who the truly great players are. There has never been any doubt that Phil Mickelson is one of the top players in professional golf and this was true even before he made the breakthrough to win his first major tournament. Mickelson has always been one of the most exciting and entertaining players to watch, with a range of strokes that make him stand out as one of the most talented in the modern game.

For a long time, golf enthusiasts were asking why it was taking so long for Phil to win his first major as he continued to be labeled the best player never to win one. The lack of a major golf trophy in his cabinet never diminished his standing in the eyes of fans who could see that Phil Mickelson was one of the best in the world, major or not. Eventually, Phil took his rightful place among the greats of the game when he donned his first Masters Green Jacket.

WHY DID PHIL TAKE SO LONG TO WIN A MAJOR?

There is a common view among those who watch and play the game of golf that Phil Mickelson would have won his first major much earlier if he had played a tighter, more thoughtful game. Phil has become renowned for his attacking style of play, a style that continues even when he is leading a tournament. Many golfers leading a tournament, especially a major, would probably think about protecting their lead and playing safe, steady golf.

The impression given by Mickelson when he was seriously in contention to win, was that he could only play free, uninhibited golf. It is a style the fans love but one that has possibly cost Phil a few tournaments in his time. When others might hit fairway woods from the tee and play for the fat part of the green, Phil would be bombing drives and attacking pins, even when a more measured approach was probably the order of the day.

This was something we heard Butch Harmon say before and after he became Mickelson's swing coach. He identified the need for Phil to rein in his natural game when circumstances called for it and play more conservatively if it resulted in winning the tournament. This did not mean that he had to change his technique or approach to golf. It simply required him to hold back occasionally and keep himself out of trouble on the course.

When Phil was bombing his drives and attacking pins, he would inevitably find himself in trouble, hitting balls into the trees or the water and overshooting greens. Thinking more

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