It's been over four years since Phil Mickelson's last PGA Tour win — the 2013 Open Championship — but the 47-year-old looks ready to end that drought.
Mickelson finished tied for second this week at Pebble Beach, three strokes behind eventual winner Ted Potter Jr. Mickelson fired three rounds in the 60s this week, including a 5-under 67 on Sunday.
Fresh off two straight top-5 finishes, Mickelson is excited about his game and ready to continue his form next week at Riviera Country Club.
"Riviera is a great ball-striker's golf course. And if you drive it well there, the second shot is where Riviera thrives and challenges you," Mickelson said Sunday. "And I'm driving it as well as I have in a long time and if I continue to strike it the way I have, it's going to be another good week. And I can't wait to get started."
The West Coast Swing has been kind to Mickelson throughout his career, and Riviera has been one of his best courses.
"I don't think it's going to take much different than the way I played the last couple of weeks and Riviera is a golf course that I played very well in the past, I like a lot, I know a lot of the nuances in it," Mickelson said. "It's a perfect course for those that are striking it well. And right now I'm hitting it as well as I have in a long time."
Back-to-back. T2. 👍#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/udZFuAIfD1
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 11, 2018
While Mickelson as thrilled with his driving this week, he stopped short of saying his improved driving accuracy is the sole reason for his recent success.
"Almost. Certainly when I drive it well I'm playing to the strength of my game, which is my iron play. But distance is also a factor too," he said. "I've really had to increase speed to hang with a lot of the younger guys. And fortunately I've been able to increase my club head speed about four miles an hour.
"So although I'm not going to be with the longest guys out here, I'm in the top third again and I feel like I can compete from there."