Mickelson on par-5 15th hole: 'Par is a good score'

• By Jay Coffin
• Apr 3, 2012 3:48 PM ET

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Phil Mickelson says that he’s thrown away more than one Masters on the 15th hole. Once he realized that a decade ago he’s won three green jackets and now thinks that par on the par-5 hole is a good score.

“On my three majors wins relative to the times that I’ve come close and have not won, has come down to a strategic change on hole 15 for me,” Mickelson said. “Because I played hole 15 in the past as a must-birdie, and I have made some epic numbers there that have just shot me right out of the tournament.”

Mickelson drew laughs from the assembled media with his “epic” comment, but mostly because truer words have rarely been spoken. His aggressive, go-for-broke style has got him in trouble numerous times on Sunday while in the hunt. A more conservative Mickelson is a Mickelson who is more likely to contend.

“Maybe I’ll get lucky and make an eagle or make a putt or what-have-you, but I’ll be happy with one or two birdies there, whereas before I was trying to always force the issue on 15 as a must birdie,” Mickelson said. “I’ve made huge numbers doing that, and it has cost me a number of Masters.”

Lefty also had a great take on what makes the famous greens here at Augusta National so challenging.

“I think that it’s easier to remember the breaks than it is to see them,” he said.