Phil Mickelson made history 30 years ago in Tucson, growing into one of seven amateurs to win a 1940 PGA Tour event.
Lefty is back in Arizona this weekend and has a chance to stand alone in the record book.
A winner in his first two PGA Tournaments begins, Mickelson could be the first player to win his first three on a PGA-licensed tour this weekend in the Cologuard Classic at Tucson National.
“I think it’s going to be a tough challenge for me here because the course gives you the opportunity to play in so many ways,” Mickelson said Thursday. “Although I’m going to play very aggressively, I’m going to bring in a lot of trouble as well. If I can get rid of some of the big messages, I think I’ll make a lot of birdies. ”
Mickelson had no trouble at Tucson National and TPC Starr Pass in 1991, getting over a triple bogey in the final round to win the Northern Telecom Open as a 20-year amateur. The former Arizona State player was still the last amateur to win a PGA Tour event.
Mickelson returns to the wilderness with a chance to make it 3 for 3 on the senior round. He won at the Ozarks National in Missouri in August last year in his first start after turning 50 and went on to win at the Country Club of Virginia in October.
Full-range tee times from the Cologuard Classic
If he wins in Tucson, the question of making more history may have to wait a while. The top five-time champion still believes he can compete on the PGA Tour and his upcoming album includes the Players Championship, Honda Classic, Masters and possibly the Valero Texas Open.
Mickelson, who owns 44 PGA Tour wins, has made four cuts in eight events this 2021 season.
“I didn’t look at the Tour of the Champion record,” he said. “I want to start playing the regular tour with a little less weight. I’ve been really hard on myself when I make a few mistakes and I have to be so easy up and playing a little more for free and a little lighter. If I can do that, I think I can burn out really good scores. ”
Mickelson will have to put up low numbers on the Tucson National Catalina Course with a deep field set to start starting Friday.
Schwab Cup money manager Bernhard Langer is still going strong at 63 and is the defending champion after coming off four strokes back to win last year.
Ernie Els, the big four-time champion is second in points. Top champions Davis Love III and Mike Weir are also in the field, as is former University of Arizona player Jim Furyk, who won his first two top finals last year.
“The boys are still competitive and they’re still hungry, which is what we all like,” said Furyk. “We enjoy the competition and I may no longer have to hit 320 yards to do that. I like it. ”
They are all waiting to win the special Conquistador helmet that will win the winner in Tucson. Mickelson first put the award on his head after winning as an amateur – cut himself in the process – and did so twice more after winning in a row in 1995-96.
“It looks good. I have three who want a quarter, they want a fair number, ”he said. “They want a rectangle. They don’t like to go out in threes, they’re always looking for a quarter, so that would be very appropriate. ”
So would do something that no other golf has done.