Trying to break 90 again: don’t try to be Phil Mickelson

<!–

–>

(After one round of golf five years ago, Dave Tindall is trying to break 90 for the first time in over a decade. Follow his journey here).

Trying to match Phil Mickelson has taken on different meanings over the past few years.

But despite recent controversies, Phil will always have a special place in my heart.

I was on him early at 33/1 when he won his first Masters in 2004 and backed him again at 7s when his odds were reversed before that memorable first win at Augusta National.

But beyond betting, he has been one of the most incredible golfers of my generation to watch, moments of brilliance that took the breath away.

Much of that has been short-game magic but trying to replicate it quickly – even with a basic, easy-to-understand Instagram post from the six-time major winner himself – could be disastrous. Read on to find out.

So, the last seven days have been golf week for me. I have played two rounds that match my stats for the past five years.

In previous editions of this diary, I have tried to rebuild my neglected game in many ways – hitting the range, being given a putting lesson and having a session using the CGQuad which led to a change in my driving style.

This is how I do everything. Safe to say, it didn’t go too well.

Disley Golf Club

I’m in the Manchester area before a trip to the theater so decided to try GolfNow and get a local lesson.

I come across Disley in Cheshire which describes itself as one of the oldest inland courses in the UK having been established in 1889.

A leading expert tells me that back in the early 1900s the Claret Jug contenders would play an event here the week after The Open – with much the same prize money on offer.

It’s a wet but windless autumn day and I have a lesson in myself as I set off at 08.45.

Eight swings on the opening par 5 is a bad start and that’s one six foot putt.

I always ‘fat’ everything in the wet and that’s a small theme on the back nine although I settle down a bit and play the last six holes in 7 over.

That’s almost bogey golf and an 18-over par 71 would see me reach my goal of breaking 90.

But any thoughts of 89 or better have already been put under a lot of pressure with my start​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​8-4-7 (6-over) and finishing the first nine in 13-over 49.

Without getting fairways on the back nine, I drop seven shots in the first three holes (6-6-7) so it’s gone from me.

I meet a decent 4-5-4-4 (bogey-bogey-bogey-par) and bogeys to finish, I repeat ‘I would like’, see me around 96.

A 96 would be six shots better than my return round and a nice progression towards the sub-90 magic.

The reality is very different. I tripled 17, my head was messed with losing my score card (the key to writing this review!) and I had to wander around for 15 minutes trying to find it. Thankfully, I do.

Then after two good shots on the par-5 18th, I had a 7-iron to the green. I get a good grip on it but it leaks to the right and ends up buried in the mounting strip on the right side of the rack.

A potential par or bogey results in a hacking, hitting, frustrating three putt quadruple-bogey 9.

Even a 7 would get a 99 so this is a sad way to end a fun morning.

Fairways hit: 6 of 14
Legal green: 2
Points: 36

Outside 9:49
At 9:52
Score: 101

The weird thing about my round is that because of the roll and wrists I’ve been using with the driver, I tend to land to the left or to the left when my hands are blowing too much.

Like the fader/blocker/slicer function this is all novel.

I need to find time for this right as it produces long drives but it is still a work in progress.

The GIR (2) figure is still formidable but many are close misses.

To put it? Three jabs on 6, 11 and 18 but one putt three times to balance that. Taking 36 putts is still a bit high but I don’t make any putts more than six feet and generally my speed is fine.

All of this I would consider ‘steady’ progress even though I only hit one shot in my return round of 102.

Baildon Golf Club

Situated high on the West Yorkshire moors, Baildon has a reputation for being something of a beast due to the often strong winds and thick, high bracken that often means automatic reloading of anything lost.

In other words, it’s definitely not the place to go if you’re trying to make progress on a project like this.

The writing is on the wall when several staff in the clubhouse shake their heads and warn me of 30mph winds ‘at the top’. One tells me he just got to the top and the flags are flying sideways.

Predictably, the course destroys me.

The scorecard shows that I take 109 switches but, remarkably, I don’t feel too depressed. Okay, maybe a little.

The first seven holes were played directly into the face of these 30mph winds and I recorded a score of 6-6-8-7-7-8. That’s 23-over if you ask.

And yet, here’s the thing, I hit at least seven or eight of these trying to be Phil Mickelson.

In the video here, Mickelson says to never have the ball between your feet when you’re swinging. Either play on the front foot or the back foot.

I try both and answer everything. There are two hits there, a shank in the trench and a series of pieces that go 10 meters forward.

In these winds, I can’t afford any of that so it’s triple bogeys or worse.

I’m not Phil Mickelson. I can’t even recreate the shot he suggests.

It’s just a normal shoot and I’ll be ninth in 51 so, to be honest in such difficult conditions, I’m not playing too bad.

After the back nine, I turn a couple of drives out of nowhere but, wisely, I have a reset and practice chipping on the ninth green. There’s no one around so it’s okay.

Also, taking Mickelson’s advice to step off the back foot – and not slow down like I was before – something clicked.

My greenside chip mows the hole and finishes inches from 10 and I float a little from 80 yards to within two feet on 11 – I’ve lost the ball from the tee though.

With the wind in my favor – even though it’s down a lot – I’m 6 over the first five holes with a par, three bogeys and a triple.

I birdied 16 in double and hit some terrific irons on the closing two par 5s, ending at 7-7.

I’m home with 50 which is 14-over. Here is the breakdown:

Fairways hit: 6 of 14 (same as Disley)
Legal green: 1
Putts: 33 (three better than Disley)

Outside 9:59
Inside 9:50
Score: 109

That’s 20 shots too many, which is, erm, too bad.

But take out Mickelson’s nonsense and brutal winds and we’re probably talking about the high 90s.

Six putts is progress although most of the greens at Baildon are small and I often putt/rub from them which helps the stats a lot.

Driving is a work in progress but there is some reason for optimism.

But my instruments have taken a real downward turn. I lose weight, I gain weight, I lose weight – the lot.

That is the area to work on next.

Like trying not to book a brutal course in 30mph winds and trying to imitate Phil Mickelson live on the course without practicing his techniques first.

WATCH: Phil Mickelson’s impressive secret for intermediate golfers