Phil Mickelson excited about his game going into Masters

Phil Mickelson made a strong run at the Masters last year, and he has a lot of confidence as the first major of the pro golf season begins Thursday.

After finishing in a tie for second place last year at Augusta, Mickelson has finished in the top five in three of his seven starts this season.

“I’m excited to play,” Mickelson told reporters during a tournament last month in Florida. “I’m enjoying playing. I’m loving playing right now. I’m playing really, really well.”

Mickelson has won the green jacket that goes to the Masters champion three times (2004, 2006 and 2010). He has five major championships overall, including the 2005 PGA Championship and 2013 British Open.

He currently leads the PGA Tour with a scoring average of 69.008, and he gives a lot of the credit to his new swing coach, Andrew Getson.

Mickelson said he is driving the ball better than he has in a long time and is pleased with his iron shots.

“The game’s starting to be instinctive,” he said. “I think that’s probably the best way to say it, where I don’t have to think about the technique or the mechanics of anything. I just kind of look and react.

“And when I’m playing well, golf is an instinctive sport. I look, I see the shot I want to hit, I feel the shot I want to hit and then I just execute.”

Mickelson has 42 career PGA Tour victories, but none since his British Open triumph. While he has played well recently, he is anxious to win again.

“The tough thing for me right now is to not focus on results, to just be patient,” Mickelson said. “Because this is the best I’ve played in a long time, and the results will come if I’m patient.

“Sometimes we kind of force the issues and we want instant results, instant feedback. I’ve had some pretty positive feedback, but I’m probably pushing the issue a little bit. I just need to settle down and let it happen, because this is the best I’ve played in a long time.”

At age 45, Mickelson would not be the oldest Masters champion if he gets the job done at Augusta National. That honor goes to Jack Nicklaus, who won at age 46 in 1986.

“The ball, the scorecard, they don’t know the difference in age,” Mickelson said said. “It’s a fun challenge for me to get back to competing at the highest level.”

This story was originally published April 2, 2016 at 5:16 PM with the headline "Phil Mickelson excited about his game going into Masters."