Phil Mickelson has won the Masters Tournament three times so he knows his way around Augusta National better than most.
It’s been 15 years since his last victory but it’s impossible to rule out someone with his ability and experience from doing it again.
The 54-year-old has been in decent form on LIV Golf recently, and he’ll be confident of putting in an impressive performance next week.
One thing which will hopefully improve his chances at the Masters is the addition of a new club to his bag.
Phil Mickelson reveals which new club he’s been practising with before the Masters Tournament
Mickelson revealed in his press conference before LIV Golf Miami that he’s been practicing with a 5-wood lately.
He believes it will come in handy on the par 5 13th and 15th holes at Augusta National, which have been made longer.
Mickelson is likely to be faced with approach shots of around 250 yards on both holes, requiring a 5 wood to get to the green in two.
“So I remember back in the ’80s when… I guess the ’70s when Ray Floyd won and Curtis Strange in ’85 when they were playing the course, they were putting a 5-wood in the bag for the par-5s, and now that the tees have been moved back on some of the holes, that’s actually a club for me that is going to come into play, so I’ve been working on a 5-wood in the off-season.
“I’ve got one I really like and that I anticipate hitting into 13 and 15 based on the last couple of years where my ball is ending up off the tee and the yardage I have left. That’s one club that I’ve been working on.
“I tried to get a 7-wood in the bag. It didn’t quite work out for me. Some of these guys hit that 6- and 7-wood incredibly. I over-spin it, so it’s not really a great club for me, but the 5-wood is a club I anticipate hitting like a high cut into 13 and 15.”
Sergio Garcia and Jon Rahm speak about club changes ahead of the Masters
Sergio Garcia also spoke about his Masters preparation ahead of LIV’s next event at Trump National Doral in Miami.
The Spaniard, who beat Justin Rose in a playoff to win the 2017 Masters, said that he prefers not to change clubs mid-season and won’t for the Masters.
“I always play with a 5-wood, so that’s a club that I already have in the bag. I’ll probably put new wedges in just to have a nice set of fresh wedges. It’s always nice to be able to have a little bit more confidence on being able to spin the ball around the greens when it comes down to chipping there at Augusta because it’s so treacherous, some of the chips that you can have.
“But other than that, I don’t plan on putting anything new. I try to keep my bag as steady as possible throughout the season so that I keep consistency on it, and hopefully that will work.”
Another former Masters champion, Jon Rahm, said that the only club decision he ever makes is between 5-wood and 2-iron, but that applies more to European courses.
“I’m not changing anything either, but you knew that. For the people that may not know, the only club that will vary is either 2-iron or 5-wood, and pretty much unless I’m in Europe, it’s 5-wood all around for the same reason Phil just said.
“Usually comes in better into playing par-5s, and the 2-iron, if anything, at the Open and some events in Europe I’ll use it off the tee, but even then sometimes I’ll still play with 5-wood. So, no changes for me.”
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