At 7,643 yards, Torrey Pines was the longest course in major championship history when it hosted the 2008 U.S. Open. So what was Phil Mickelson’s plan of attack for the first major at his hometown muni? Eschew the driver. With firm summer conditions and thick rough lining the fairways, Mickelson decided to start the week without a driver in his bag. “I don’t really want to hit it past 300 yards on most of the par-4s because it starts running into the rough,” Mickelson said back then. “And I felt like with the fairways being firm like they were today, all I needed was 3-wood on the holes.” Mickelson may employ a similar strategy this week. He expects to hit a 2-wood on about half his tee shots this week. But Mickelson, who’s made no secret of his pursuit of extra clubhead speed in recent years, also will have his driver in the bag. “There’s a lot of holes where it kind of turns or tightens,” he said in his pre-tournament press conference. “That 2-wood, I’ll call it, seems to fit the right yardage on a lot of those holes for me.” Mickelson’s 5-degree driver, the Callaway Epic Speed Triple Diamond driver with a Fujikura Ventus Black shaft, also will be in the bag. It’s the same club that helped him hit big bombs in his win at last month’s PGA Championship. Most impressive was the 366-yard tee shot he hit to set up a crucial birdie on the tournament’s 69th hole. In 2008, Mickelson opted for a Callaway FT Tour 3-wood — a 13-degree version bent to 11.5 degrees and equipped with a 43-inch Mitsubishi Diamana White Board shaft – in lieu of his driver. However, over the opening two days of the tournament, Mickelson struggled off the tee. On the brutally challenging and lengthy California course, Mickelson found himself not just in the rough for most of Thursday and Friday, but short too. “When I made some terrible swings and hit in the rough it kind of defeats the game plan because now I’m short and crooked,” he said. Following rounds of 71 and 75, Mickelson abandoned the plan and put his FT-5 Tour driver (bent at 8.5 degrees) back in the bag for the weekend. Being 4 over par forced his hand. He needed to make birdies if he was going to contend at Torrey Pines. As he explained to media that week, being 4 over par forced his hand, and the need to have more short irons into holes to help him score was what brought the driver back into play. “Why did I put the driver in the bag today? … I needed to try to make some birdies and get a few shorter irons in,” he said. He was undone by a quadruple-bogey 9 on the par-5 13th, though, and shot 76 in the third round to end his chances. He closed with his low round of the week, a 3-under 68, to salvage a T18 finish. Since then, Lefty has won multiple majors and also experimented with going without driver again at Merion at the 2013 U.S. Open. Mickelson won the 2006 Masters with two drivers in the bag, an experiment he repeated at the 2019 Memorial Tournament presented by Workday. Two years ago at Muirfield Village, he reflected on his decision to start the 2008 U.S. Open without a driver. At the Memorial Tournament in 2019, Mickelson carried multiple drivers, where he also reflected on his 2018 driverless experiment at Torrey Pines. “That was a mistake, obviously. What a great idea that was,” he said. “I’m going to play with a 3-wood. And then I missed the fairways with the 3-wood. That was ridiculous. That didn’t work out.” Mickelson will have a different setup this week and hope for a different result. It would be a storybook victory for the World Golf Hall of Famer.
‘Now I’m short and crooked’
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3rd Round 2 Ball – Hardy/Riley vs Phillip/Bridgeman | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Ball – Status: OPEN | |
Nick Hardy / Davis Riley | -120 |
Chandler Phillips / Jacob Bridgeman | +100 |
3rd Round Match-Up – Campillo/Normann v Lashley/Campos | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Nate Lashley / Rafael Campos | -110 |
Vincent Norrman / Jorge Campillo | -110 |
3rd Round Match-Up – Trainer/Ramey v Tway/Kraft | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Chad Ramey / Martin Trainer | -115 |
Kelly Kraft / Kevin Tway | -105 |
3rd Round 2 Ball- Norrman/Campillo vs Kraft/Tway | |
Type: 3rd Rd 2 Ball – Status: OPEN | |
Vincent Norrman / Jorge Campillo | -120 |
Kelly Kraft / Kevin Tway | +100 |
3rd Round Match-Up – Knox/Malnati v Reavie/Snedeker | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Peter Malnati / Russell Knox | -125 |
Chez Reavie / Brandt Snedeker | +105 |
3rd Round 2 Ball – Lashley/Campos vs Reavie/Snedeker | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Ball – Status: OPEN | |
Nate Lashley / Rafael Campos | -145 |
Chez Reavie / Brandt Snedeker | +120 |
3rd Round Match-Up – Morikawa/Kitayama vs Yu/Pan | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Collin Morikawa / Kurt Kitayama | -160 |
Kevin Yu / C.T. Pan | +135 |
3rd Round 2 Ball – Morikawa/Kitayama vs Malnati/Knox | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Ball – Status: OPEN | |
Collin Morikawa / Kurt Kitayama | -220 |
Peter Malnati / Russell Knox | +180 |
3rd Round 2 Ball – Wu/Nicholas vs Eckroat/Gotterup | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Ball – Status: OPEN | |
Austin Eckroat / Chris Gotterup | -175 |
Brandon Wu / James Nicholas | +145 |
3rd Round Match-Up – Higgo/Fox vs Garnett/Straka | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Brice Garnett / Sepp Straka | -110 |
Garrick Higgo / Ryan Fox | -110 |
3rd Round 2 Ball – Ramey/Trainer vs Garnett/Straka | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Ball – Status: OPEN | |
Brice Garnett / Sepp Straka | -155 |
Chad Ramey / Martin Trainer | +130 |
3rd Round 2 Ball – Sigg/Hadley vs Higgo/Fox | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Ball – Status: OPEN | |
Garrick Higgo / Ryan Fox | -115 |
Greyson Sigg / Chesson Hadley | -105 |
3rd Round Match-Up – Fitzpatrick/Fitzpatrick vs Ghim/Kim | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Matt Fitzpatrick / Alex Fitzpatrick | -120 |
Doug Ghim / Chan Kim | +100 |
3rd Round Match-Up – Olesen/Wallace v Smotherman/Meissner | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Matt Wallace / Thorbjorn Olesen | -125 |
Mac Meissner / Austin Smotherman | +105 |
3rd Round 2 Ball – Ghim/Kim vs Wallace/Olesen | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Ball – Status: OPEN | |
Doug Ghim / Chan Kim | -110 |
Matt Wallace / Thorbjorn Olesen | -110 |
3rd Round Match-Up – Barjon/Stevens v Kizzire/Kohles | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Sam Stevens / Paul Barjon | -120 |
Ben Kohles / Patton Kizzire | +100 |
3rd Round 2 Ball – Yu/Pan vs Stevens/Barjon | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Ball – Status: OPEN | |
Kevin Yu / C.T. Pan | -135 |
Sam Stevens / Paul Barjon | +115 |
3rd Round Match-Up – Blair/Fishburn v O’Hair/Taylor | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Zac Blair / Patrick Fishburn | -115 |
Ben Taylor / Sean O’Hair | -105 |
3rd Round 2 Ball – Lower/Wu vs Taylor/OHair | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Ball – Status: OPEN | |
Dylan Wu / Justin Lower | -165 |
Ben Taylor / Sean O’Hair | +135 |
3rd Round 2 Ball – Lee/Kim vs Fitzpatrick/Fitzpatrick | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Ball – Status: OPEN | |
Matt Fitzpatrick / Alex Fitzpatrick | -125 |
K.H. Lee / Michael Kim | +105 |
Mitsubishi Electric Classic | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Steven Alker | +135 |
David Toms | +700 |
Stewart Cink | +900 |
Doug Barron | +1400 |
Paul Broadhurst | +1600 |
Richard Green | +1800 |
Shane Bertsch | +2000 |
Tim Petrovic | +2000 |
Retief Goosen | +2500 |
Thomas Bjorn | +2500 |
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3rd Round Match-Up – Echavarria/Greyserman vs Kohles/Kizzire | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Nico Echavarria / Max Greyserman | -120 |
Ben Kohles / Patton Kizzire | +100 |
3rd Round Match-Up – Piercy/Hall v Hoffman/Watney | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Harry Hall / Scott Piercy | -115 |
Charley Hoffman / Nick Watney | -105 |
3rd Round 2 Ball – Hoffman/Watney vs Kohles/Kizzire | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Ball – Status: OPEN | |
Ben Kohles / Patton Kizzire | -130 |
Charley Hoffman / Nick Watney | +110 |
3rd Round Match-Up – Mitchell/Dahmen vs Detry/MacIntyre | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Keith Mitchell / Joel Dahmen | -110 |
Thomas Detry / Robert MacIntyre | -110 |
3rd Round 2 Ball – Hall/Piercy vs Mitchell/Dahmen | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Ball – Status: OPEN | |
Keith Mitchell / Joel Dahmen | -165 |
Harry Hall / Scott Piercy | +135 |
3rd Round Match-Up – Johnson/Palmer vs List/Norlander | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Luke List / Henrik Norlander | -120 |
Zach Johnson / Ryan Palmer | +100 |
3rd Round Match-Up – Taylor/Hadwin vs Conners/Pendrith | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Nick Taylor / Adam Hadwin | -115 |
Corey Conners / Taylor Pendrith | -105 |
3rd Round Match-Up – Cantlay/Schauffele vs McIlroy/Lowry | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Patrick Cantlay / Xander Schauffele | -125 |
Rory McIlroy / Shane Lowry | +105 |
3rd Round Match-Up – Brehm/Hubbard vs Tarren/Skinns | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Callum Tarren / David Skinns | -110 |
Ryan Brehm / Mark Hubbard | -110 |
3rd Round Match-Up – Rai/Lipsky vs Thompson/Novak | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Davis Thompson / Andrew Novak | -120 |
Aaron Rai / David Lipsky | +100 |
JM Eagle LA Championship | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Grace Kim | +100 |
Maja Stark | +300 |
Hannah Green | +1000 |
Esther Henseleit | +2500 |
Haeran Ryu | +2500 |
Rose Zhang | +2500 |
Sei Young Kim | +2500 |
Emily Pedersen | +4000 |
Auston Kim | +5000 |
Jin Young Ko | +7000 |
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Scottie Scheffler Specials | |
Type: Scottie Scheffler Specials – Status: OPEN | |
Win Any Remaining Signature Event | -200 |
PGA Championship (Top 10 Finish) & US Open (Top 10 Finish) | +115 |
PGA Championship (Top 10 Finish) & The Open (Top 10 Finish) | +125 |
US Open (Top 10 Finish) & The Open (Top 10 Finish) | +135 |
All Remaining Signature Events – Top 10 Finish | +200 |
PGA Championship (Top 5 Finish) & The Open (Top 5 Finish) | +200 |
US Open (Top 5 Finish) & The Open (Top 5 Finish) | +210 |
PGA Championship (Top 10 Finish) & US Open (Top 10 Finish) & The Open (Top 10 Finish) | +240 |
PGA Championship (Top 5 Finish) & US Open (Top 5 Finish) | +280 |
Win 2 Remaining Signature Events | +450 |
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PGA Championship 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +350 |
Jon Rahm | +1200 |
Rory McIlroy | +1200 |
Ludvig Aberg | +1600 |
Brooks Koepka | +2000 |
Xander Schauffele | +2000 |
Bryson DeChambeau | +2500 |
Collin Morikawa | +2500 |
Max Homa | +2500 |
Patrick Cantlay | +2500 |
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Requests | |
Type: Requests – Status: OPEN | |
Miles Russell – Win a Major before 30th birthday | +10000 |
Scottie Scheffler & Nelly Korda – Win All Remaining 2024 Majors | +250000 |
US Open 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +350 |
Jon Rahm | +1200 |
Rory McIlroy | +1200 |
Ludvig Aberg | +1600 |
Collin Morikawa | +2000 |
Viktor Hovland | +2000 |
Brooks Koepka | +2500 |
Cameron Smith | +2500 |
Patrick Cantlay | +2500 |
Xander Schauffele | +2500 |
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The Open Championship 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +500 |
Jon Rahm | +1000 |
Rory McIlroy | +1000 |
Viktor Hovland | +1100 |
Brooks Koepka | +2000 |
Cameron Smith | +2000 |
Cameron Young | +2000 |
Collin Morikawa | +2000 |
Ludvig Aberg | +2000 |
Jordan Spieth | +2500 |
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Requests | |
Type: Requests – Status: OPEN | |
The Open Championship – Alex Noren – Top 20 Finish | +200 |
Solheim Cup 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
USA | -140 |
Europe | +135 |
Tie | +1200 |
Ryder Cup 2025 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
USA | -135 |
Europe | +135 |
Tie | +1000 |