NORTON, Mass. – For Phil Mickelson it may still be a work in progress but the union is certainly showing promise. No, not that new belly putter Lefty put in play at the Deutsche Bank Championship, but another recent addition to Team Phil.
Julie Elion, a Bethesda, Md., sports psychologist whose list of PGA Tour clients already includes the likes of J.B. Holmes, was a conspicuous member of Mickelson’s entourage throughout the week at TPC Boston and, according to Elion, the two have been working together since the Open Championship in July.
Elion joins a team that already includes swing coach Butch Harmon, short-game guru Dave Pelz, putting instructor Dave Stockton Sr. and trainer Sean Cochran.
As for that other new addition, Mickelson remained unsure whether the belly putter would be in the bag for next week’s BMW Championship but he seemed to still be intrigued by the possible benefits of the new implement.
“From 6 feet and in, I felt very good with it. I made a lot of good ones,” said Mickelson, who tied for 10th in Boston but didn’t make a putt over 16 feet all week and ranked 41st in putts per green in regulation. “Because of that, I think I’m going to practice with it a little bit more from the 10- to 25-foot area where I need to make some of those, and I really didn’t make one this week. If I can do that, if I can get effective with that, I think I’ll try to stay with it.”