PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – Phil Mickelson missed the cut Friday at The Players Championship after he couldn’t hole a 25-foot birdie putt at the 18th hole.
That’s back-to-back missed cuts for Mickelson at The Players.
After opening with a 75 Thursday, Mickelson followed up with a 70, leaving him at 1-over, a shot over the cut line. In 21 starts at The Players, he has just three top-10 finishes, including his victory in 2007.
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In 10 starts this year, Mickelson has missed the cut or withdrawn in half of them (3 MCs, 2 WDs).
“I don’t know what to say,” Mickelson said. “I don’t feel bad about the game, but, mentally, I’m just really soft right now. I’m having a hard time focusing on the shot. I’m having a hard time seeing the ball go in the hole.”
Mickelson will make just two starts before the U.S. Open at Pinehurst next month. He will take two weeks off before returning to play the Memorial. He’ll then play the following week at the FedEx St. Jude Classic.
In Friday’s round, Mickelson was better with his putter, but still not as sharp as he needs to be to contend. He took 28 putts, better than the 33 he took in the first round.
“The physical game doesn’t feel bad,” Mickelson said. “I don’t feel bad about the way I’m hitting it. I don’t feel like the misses are bad. I haven’t driven the ball this well ever, for how I feel, anyways. But getting the ball to the hole, getting the shots close, getting the putts to go, I just haven’t been able to do it. So I feel like it’s more of a mental issue, and I’ll go home and see if I can work on it.”