PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

May 22, 2021

Phil Mickelson

The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island

Quick Quotes

JOHN DEVER: We are joined by Phil Mickelson.

Q. You've been in plenty of dogfights at the majors, but at your advanced age, hard to know how many are in front of you. How do you keep yourself from wanting it too much or pushing too hard tomorrow?

PHIL MICKELSON: I think that because I feel or believe that I'm playing really well and I have an opportunity to contend for a major championship on Sunday and I'm having so much fun that it's easier to stay in the present and not get ahead of myself.

And so I think that's a big part of it. I think certainly my brother has played a big part in kind of keeping me present and in the moment and not letting a couple of bad swings affect me here or there, and so I think we're having so much fun that it's easy to stay present.

Q. That first 10, 11 holes was such a strong stretch. What felt best about that to you?

PHIL MICKELSON: I felt I had a very clear picture on every shot, and I've been swinging the club well, and so I was executing. I just need to keep that picture a few more times.

So even though it slipped a little bit today and I didn't stay as focused and as sharp on a few swings, it's significantly better than it's been for a long time. So I'm making a lot of progress, and I'll continue to work on that and hopefully I'll be able to eliminate a couple of those loose swings tomorrow. Because I'm playing a lot better than the score is showing and I think if I can just stay sharp tomorrow, I'll post a score that is -- that better reflects how I'm actually playing.

Q. Jordan Spieth was in here earlier and he says he doesn't watch golf on TV but he was going home to put you on because you always guarantee theatre. You've seen and done it all. How can you articulate everything you did and experienced today?

PHIL MICKELSON: I don't know if I'm really -- if I really could right now because I'm more focused on a few things that I need to work on tonight before tomorrow's round, and I'm not really dwelling back on what took place today. I just know I'm having a lot of fun and I'm very appreciative of the way the people have been supportive.

Q. 12 and 13, is that an example of loss of focus, and if so, did you get it back to finish out the round?

PHIL MICKELSON: So, yeah, it's just an example of losing the feel and the picture of the shot, and I get a little bit jumpy, a little bit fast from the top, and it just -- when that happens I get narrow and I end up flipping it.

So those two swings were more a product of not staying or keeping the feel and the focus of the shot. And so that's just a small little thing that I need to iron out.

Q. A couple of things about 13. What did you see with Louis' tee shot? It seemed like it could have been where he would have had to re-tee it also.

PHIL MICKELSON: His ball clearly crossed over the hazard. I didn't think that was an issue. It flew down there, it had a big cut to it. There was no question in my mind from where we were at that it crossed way up there.

Mine was on the edge, and I just didn't feel good about it. I thought it was -- I just didn't think it was -- as much as it hooked, I just didn't think it crossed it there.

Q. That was the 2-wood, correct, on that hole?

PHIL MICKELSON: Yeah.

Q. And was there any thought -- easy to say, right, but any thought about just bunting it out into the fairway after seeing what he did? Or are you not even worrying about what he did?

PHIL MICKELSON: What he does doesn't affect what I do or the rest of the field. So I need to, I just need to execute better, and it wasn't a hard shot. I've been hitting that shot well. It's a little running draw. I didn't hit it very well today, that shot, but I've been hitting it well, and so I'll go work on that.

Q. With the crowd, did it feel like old times and did you miss having the crowds out there? Did you suffer without the crowds?

PHIL MICKELSON: No, I'm appreciative of the fact that we were able to play and compete without fans and the sponsors that made it possible, and the effort that was put in to get everybody tested and the extra work that it takes to play.

So I'm more appreciative of the fact that we were able to play. But it is nice to have people out here enjoying the game and supporting us the way they have. It's been a lot of fun.