Phil Mickelson wins with help from a woman

We didn’t plan our outfits (Phil’s never on the phone) but we both turned up to Sunday’s round wearing all black. And that has nothing to do with anything.

I confess – I like Phil Mickelson. Come on, it’s not like I’m alone here! Lefty’s got special something about him (not to mention a knockout smile, posed or candid) that I find quite pleasant. Knowing that I would be going to the Northern Trust Open for the final round on Sunday, I was so glad to watch him take the lead and thrilled to be there to watch him win.

But I wasn’t just there, I was there with a shiny new media credential, courtesy of my association with the respectable publication Golf For Women. (Thanks, Alena!) I had access to pretty much anywhere I wanted to go. I was inside the ropes taking photos, at the range, in the clubhouse… I could even have gone in the locker room but I was surprisingly and uncharacteristically timid, practically demure, at the event. I want to be allowed back, you know.

Phil even won despite my unlucky presence. I didn’t follow him all day, but I was up close and personal on the second hole where he found the bunker and again on the 9th where he found the 10th. (Sorry, Phil. Glad you worked it out in spite of me.)

At the trophy presentation, Phil gave a special shout out to Amy Alcott. He thanked her for her help at Riviera. I was intrigued and wanted to know more. Back in the media conference, I was prepared with my question: “Would you tell us more about your relationship with Amy Alcott and how she helped you this week?” Again, I was feeling strangely shy but I would have asked the question if someone didn’t relieve the pressure and ask the same thing once they were finished asking him about the golf course, his competitors and how this prepares him for match play (since he and Quinney basically went head-to-head down the stretch, it transitions nicely into this week’s tournament).

I can’t quote him exactly because I don’t have the transcripts, but he said she really helped him read the greens and talked about her extensive course knowledge. She knows how the greens slope. To paraphrase: “Everyone wants to walk with Amy in the pro-am.” But Phil got her that day and he picked her brain. In the same response, he also talked about how he has changed to a softer golf ball, which gives him a little more distance but that’s not why he uses it. He uses it for the feel and control. I surmised Amy had something to do with his choice, but I could be wrong. He also said he put a firmer insert in his putter so he could hear the golf ball coming off it, which makes him better with speed, touch and feel. He especially likes the softer ball with his short irons and wedges. All short game stuff – Amy (and Phil)’s specialty. And all in the response from that one question.

Who says women have no short game?

Anyway, I have a lot of terrific photos from the event and would love to put some up now, but I still haven’t had a chance to repair my site and it’s problem displaying images. I will get around to it soon and share some of those pictures with you.

Meanwhile, you can see a few of them on my GFW post about the event.

Also, congratulations to Annika on winning at Turtle Bay. Wasn’t that great to see? I’m so happy that both players I rooted for last weekend won!

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