TRAVELERS CHAMPIONSHIP

June 25, 2021

Phil Mickelson

TPC River Highlands

Quick Quotes

Q. Phil, three birdies on the last four holes. How would you assess that closing stretch there to get to 2-under?

PHIL MICKELSON: It was a good one. I mean, I'm happy that I have a chance to play the weekend. I'm not scoring the way I need to on some critical holes, namely No. 13 on the back, and 15. Need to play those holes 4-under par. Played them 2-over. Those six shots, that's the difference.

So I've got to do the simple things well, and I ended up doing the hard things, sure birdieing three of the last four to make the cut. But I'm excited to play, and I need a couple more rounds. Gosh, it's a course that we saw with Jim Furyk you can get hot, make a move.

Hopefully I'll have a chance to play early and play some good golf.

Q. Were there thoughts when you got back to 1-over, obviously thinking about the cut?

PHIL MICKELSON: I mean, I was 1-under for the tournament, even for the day making the turn. Bogeying 1 and 2 is just pathetic. They're two birdie holes. Easy, short wedges in, and I hit two bad drives and ended up making two bogeys.

Gosh, after that I thought -- or I knew I was in trouble cut-wise, because there were some holes back into the wind that were going to play long, like 4 and 5, and I had my work cut out for me.

There is another two shots you just can't throw away. I'm letting a lot of shots slide, but I have this weekend to work on it, try to build a little bit of minimum, and get my focus and game back to where it's been lately.

Q. You've been talking about focus for a while. How difficult is it to come off a U.S. Open week and play the following week and just try to get it back going again?

PHIL MICKELSON: So I rested a couple days and gave myself a chance to be prepared and ready. Felt very fresh and ready. Gave myself a few days.

And I knew it was close. I'm hitting a lot of good shots but just a few too many bad ones right now.

Q. Were you a aware of the number you had to get tot make the cut?

PHIL MICKELSON: Most likely going to be two, but could be one. One has got probably a 50/50 chance and then two is 100% in.

Q. When Bubba is playing well do you feed off that or does it matter?

PHIL MICKELSON: Not really paying attention. I've got my own struggles going at the time. So it was nice to finish with a good note and have a chance to maybe do something tomorrow.