GOLF US PGA CHAMPIONSHIP:THE ROARS and groans from around the course worked their way to the recorder's area in the stonewashed clubhouse up the hill at the back of the 18th green. For Phil Mickelson, it didn't matter.
While those in pursuit of the Wanamaker Trophy were enduring the perils of the lakeshore, sand hills and the plethora of bunkers, old Lefty was preparing to move out to his waiting army of fans and a marathon autograph session.
In finishing with a final round 67 for 282, Mickelson moved ahead of his nemesis Tiger Woods in the championship, but not in his quest to be world number one.
That particular target, which so far has eluded him in a career which has garnered four majors, would have to wait for another day. “If I just can start playing well, I think that I can get that done. But it just wasn’t to be this week,” he said.
Still, given that his week started by revealing the presence of psoriatic arthritis in his system, Mickelson knows that there are greater challenges ahead than simply overtaking Woods to be world number one.
Of a swashbuckling finale to this major, Masters champion Mickelson – smiling broadly – admitted, “I was trying to do something special here. I was trying to get a little greedy and see if I could get a second one (this season) . . . unfortunately, I didn’t play good enough golf.”
Mickelson, who has been on medication since the arthritis diagnosis was made, admitted: “I don’t feel like there’s anything wrong right now. I’ve been fortunate, and I just hope that I still react as well as I have to the meds . . . . I feel normal. It’s gone. I don’t want to say it’s gone away but all the symptoms have gone away and I feel great.”
Indeed, far from wallowing in the diagnosis, Mickelson is intent on a busy end-of-season schedule that will take in the FedEx Cup series – starting with the Barclays – before being a part of the US Ryder Cup team (he finished as atop the US qualifying table which concluded after the PGA here) and also a trip to take in tournaments in Singapore and China as well as taking a looking at a number of golf courses developments he is working on in the Far East.
Putting on his course designer’s hat, Mickelson observed of Whistling Straits: “I think it’s a terrific set-up, great, because it’s risk and reward.
“The way they moved up the tee twice on the (drivable par four) sixth and moved the pin to the left, I thought was very well done . . . the only thing I think, and it has nothing to do with the course, is I would like to see the walkways for the spectators to be made easier.
“You’ve got great hills and mounds but there’s a lot of little holes that prevent people from seeing and it could be better viewing.”
The US PGA will return here in 2015 and the Ryder Cup is scheduled to take place on the course in 2020, so maybe Mickelson’s words will be taken on board.
In fact, course designer Pete Dye is due for a site visit next week to undertake further improvements for those upcoming championships.
Long before that, though, there are more immediate targets for Mickelson as he moves on to the FedEx Cup starting with the Barclays on Thursday week.
Another chance to get to number one in the world?
