What to make of Phil Mickelson’s ready to ‘go on a tear’ comments at the Masters

Following an impressive 3-under during the second round of the Masters — placing him in the top 10 on the leaderboard after day two at Augusta — Phil Mickelson proclaimed to the media that he’s ready to “go on a tear” as he looks towards the weekend.

“I’m close to going on a tear,” said Mickelson. “Even though the scores haven’t shown it, like I’m hitting so many good shots, pretty soon I’m going to have a really low one. When that happens and it clicks, then the game feels easy again. Then I stop putting pressure on myself, and the scores just start to fall into place.”

Just a few years ago, Mickelson finding himself in contention would be feel-good type of stuff for all golf fans.

At 52 years old, anytime a legend like himself can hang with the new-age, long-ball hitters who are half his age, even TV viewers could feel the electric support from the tournament gallery.

Unfortunately, those days are behind him.

Not the days where Mickelson can compete in a major like the Masters, as he’s proven thus far this week, but the adoration that he gets from the crowd.

After bolting from the PGA Tour for LIV Golf — for hundreds of millions, no less — Mickelson remained public enemy No. 1 in the golf world. Whether that’s amongst his peers or in the media, everyone seems to find ways to swipe at him.

This isn’t to offer any sympathy for him. He must sleep in the bed he made for himself — and that means taking a PR hit.

But this Masters tournament has had a different feeling to it for months. Even before the annual honorary starter ceremony on Thursday, the drama surrounding Augusta was at an all-time high, with golf fans curious to see how PGA and LIV players could coexist at Augusta — despite it feeling like two steam engines racing towards one another at full speed.

That drama has continued through the first two days of the tournament, with the current leader (Brooks Koepka) being a LIV guy now.

However, the attention will always come back to Mickelson, as he’s the face of LIV, he’s the one with the Hall of Fame career, he’s the one with the six major titles, and the history of charming golf crowds.

That’s all gone now, though.

Even as Mickelson energetically stood at the podium during his post-round press conference, his words didn’t seem to spark the same enthusiasm as they once did.

“I would use the word more spiritual because, if you love golf, when you come here, it’s more of a spiritual experience, where you feel this appreciation for this great game and the gratitude that you have,” Mickelson said when describing the Masters.

“Then this tournament, this course gives something for everybody to aspire to. If you’re a kid and you’re dreaming of playing in the Masters and you want to win it, it gives you something to aspire to. It did for me.”

Just two years ago, that would’ve inspired fans. It would’ve made him the crowd favorite. And it would’ve made people believe in him.

Unfortunately, despite one of the best golfers of all time doing things fans should be celebrating, Mickelson’s instead being left out in the cold without a jacket. The golf world has turned on him, and, even if he does “go on a tear” at the Masters, will anyone care?

Nick Dimengo

Golf.com Editor