Northern Trust Open player spotlight: Phil Mickelson

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Feb. 22, 2009

Each week during the 2009 season, PGATOUR.COM will spotlight one key player in the field (click here to view previous spotlights).

For this week's Northern Trust Open, it's Phil Mickelson, the defending champion at this event. Consider this file to be your one-stop source for everything concerning Phil this week, with links to Phil-related content, notes and stats, and video and other multimedia elements.

Then, once competition starts, we'll update this file every day with Phil's results and statistics after each round at the Northern Trust Open.

Phil's round-by-round results

Rd.	Score	Position	Eagles	Birdies	Pars	Bogeys	Others	SHOT TRACKER
1	63 (8 under)	1	0	8	10	0	0	Click to replay round
Phil couldn't have asked for a better start to his title defense at the Northern Trust Open. Lefty fired an 8-under 63 on Thursday in a round that featured eight birdies for the lead.
2	72 (1 over)	T4	1	1	12	4	0	Click to replay round
Phil started his second round on a high note with an eagle at the first hole, but had many ups and downs after that, including four bogeys. Even still, he was just three shots back at 7 under and tied for fourth.
3	62 (9 over)	1	1	7	10	0	0	Click to replay round
Phil was unstoppable in the third round on Saturday. For the second day in a row, he began his day with an eagle on the first hole. Lefty picked up just one birdie on the front nine after the eagle, but went crazy on the back with six birdies, including four in succession beginning on No. 14. The 9-under 62 -- one shot away from tying the course record -- secured a four-shot lead for Phil with one round to play.
4	72 (1 over)	1	1	2	9	5	0	Click to replay round
Phil started the round with a four-stroke lead and immediately picked up another two with an eagle on the first hole. He quickly gave those back, though, when he bogeyed the second and third. He stumbled a few more times, allowing Steve Stricker to take a two-stroke lead on him. Birdies on the 16th and 17th saved his round, however, and a bogey from Stricker at the last gave Mickelson the window he needed. A crucial par putt on the 72nd hole solidified the win for the defending champion.

SUNDAY
Watch: Mickelson wins the Northern Trust Open
Watch: Mickelson's par putt to win the Northern Trust Open
Watch: Mickelson birdies the 17th to take the lead at Riviera
Watch: Final-round highlights from Riviera CC
Column: Mickelson won but still has work to do on his game
Transcript: Read what Mickelson had to say about his win

SATURDAY
Watch: Mickelson birdies No. 15 for four-shot lead
Watch: Mickelson stiffs his tee shot on No. 14
Watch: Mickelson's stellar approach on No. 11
Watch: Mickelson extends lead with bunker blast on No. 17
Interview: Mickelson takes about his four-shot, 54-hole lead
Transcript: Read what Mickelson said after his 9-under 62

FRIDAY
Watch: Mickelson's 28-foot eagle putt on No. 1
Transcript: Read what Mickelson said after his 1-over 72

THURSDAY
Transcript: Read what Mickelson said after his 8-under 63
Watch: Mickelson talks about his hot start
Watch: Highlights from the first round of the Northern Trust Open

WEDNESDAY
Read: Big week for Mickelson, Ishikawa and V. Johnson
Transcript: Read what Mickelson said before the Northern Trust Open
Watch: Mickelson talks about his title defense this week

Phil Mickelson: Featured content

	TOP 100 PLAYERS TO WATCH. In our list of the Top 100 Players to Watch in 2009, find out where Phil ranked. Click here for more
	T.J.'S TAKE. What's up with Mickelson's slow start to the year? PGATOUR.COM columnist T.J. Auclair provides his take on what's going on with Lefty. Click here for column
	WEST COAST TROUBLES. Phil Mickelson is usually one of the TOUR's best West Coast players, but something has not been working this season. Click here for more
	PLAYER PAGE. Want more on Phil? On his PGATOUR.COM player page, you can check out his results through the years, or how he ranks on TOUR in certain statistical categories. Click here for player page

Phil Mickelson: Featured videos

	SWINGPLEX. Take a look at Phil Mickelson's swing with our special slow-motion video. Click here to watch
	IN THE BAG. Two drivers? No driver? Take a look at what Phil's carrying in his bag. Click here to watch
	RINGING IN THE PLAYOFFS. Last season, Phil Mickelson helped kick off the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup in a very unique way. Click here to watch
	MR. POPULAR. In the 15 years he's been on the PGA TOUR, Phil Mickelson has enjoyed a special connection with his fans. Find out why some compare him to Arnold Palmer. Click here to watch
	WHY LEFTY'S A LEFTY. Mickelson and his dad reminisce about playing golf when Phil was a youngster -- and explain how the world's most famous left-handed golfer got his start as a southpaw. Click here to watch
	CALIFORNIA DREAMING. Mickelson grew up in San Diego, and the perfect weather year-round is ideal for honing a world-class golf game. Click here to watch

Take Five

Five things you should know about Phil Mickelson

	The golfer we all call Lefty is actually a righty in everything but golf. He learned to swing left-handed by mirroring his right-handed father as he learned the game.
	He was one of the most successful amateur golfers in history. Mickelson was just the second collegiate golfer to earn first-team All-American honors in all four years at Arizona State. He became the first left-hander to win the U.S. Amateur title in 1990, and one year later won the Northern Telecom Open. He was just the fourth in TOUR history to win as an amateur.
	If golf doesn't work out, there's always Hollywood for Mickelson. In 1994, he made a cameo appearance in an episode of "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman". He can also be seen in "Tin Cup" and, in 2005, appeared in one of his favorite shows "Entourage".
	In April 2007, Mickelson parted ways with longtime swing coach Rick Smith. He's currently working with well-known coach Butch Harmon.
	On Sports Illustrated's list of the "Fortunate 50", the 50 top-earning U.S. athletes in 2008, Phil Mickelson was second. His on-course foe, Tiger Woods, was No. 1.

West Coast Comfort

Phil Mickelson grew up in California and attended Arizona State University, so naturally he's got a history out West. He's also earned 18 of his 34 titles in three Western states:

Win	Tournament	State
No. 1	1991 Northern Telecom Open	Arizona
No. 2	1993 Buick Invitational of California	California
No. 3	1993 THE INTERNATIONAL	Colorado
No. 4	1994 Mercedes Championships	California
No. 5	1995 Northern Telecom Open	Arizona
No. 6	1996 Nortel Open	Arizona
No. 7	1996 Phoenix Open	Arizona
No. 11	1997 Sprint International	Colorado
No. 12	1998 Mercedes Championships	California
No. 13	1998 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am	California
No. 14	2000 Buick Invitational	California
No. 18	2001 Buick Invitational	California
No. 20	2002 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic	California
No. 22	2004 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic	California
No. 24	2005 FBR Open	Arizona
No. 25	2005 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am	California
No. 30	2007 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am	California
No. 33	2008 Northern Trust Open	California