The year Phil Mickelson claimed Augusta was easier than he’d ever seen it after competing at The Masters

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Being a three-time winner of The Masters, Phil Mickelson knows a thing or two about just how tough Augusta National can be.

Mickelson won the tournament in 2004, 2006 and 2010 and has played some of his best and most exciting golf around the legendary course.

With that experience and knowhow, Mickelson has built up a memory bank and knowledge of just when Augusta is playing at its very toughest.

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Year on year we see the course grind the best players in the world down but every so often, it throws them a bone, as Mickelson experienced back in his prime.

What Phil Mickelson said about Augusta National at the 2009 Masters

The 2009 Masters is most remembered for Argentinian golfer Angel Cabrera winning out in a playoff.

However, it should also be noted that when we look at the leaderboard and the top ten in particular, it is arguably one of the least inspiring boards in terms of star power that we’ve ever seen.

Mickelson finished in 5th trying to win a third Masters, while big names like Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk also made the top ten.

In the main, though, a number of smaller names in the world of golf got in there and according to Mickelson at the time, the course itself was playing easier than ever. Indeed, in his own final round, Mickelson actually only needed 30 shots for his opening nine, before crumbling down the back nine.

“It was a fun day. I enjoyed the front nine a lot. The back nine I wish I had played better. I thought it was an amazing finish. A lot of things happened,” Mickelson said.

“This year, Augusta played easier than it’s ever played. The greens were soft. I haven’t seen that, ever. That shot that I hit on seven that stopped by the hole, that ball normally wouldn’t stop.”

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Phil Mickelson’s brilliant record at The Masters

Phil Mickelson has won three times around Augusta and he needs no introduction to the course and what it can and can’t offer.

His comments in ’09 on it being a touch easy are interesting though, albeit if it was that easy, he might well have won it himself.

Still, his record at Augusta is a good one and when he does eventually hang up the clubs, he can look back and be proud of how he has played at The Masters.

Between 1999 and 2010, Mickelson finished outside the top ten just once at Augusta, winning three times and finishing third on three more occasions.

Furthermore, Mickelson even finished second as recently as 2023, showing very much he still has the game around the place if needed.

In reality, Mickelson might feel he could have won more at Augusta, with this particular one in 2009 being one that might have got away.