Mickelson prepared for windy conditions at Masters

Phil Mickelson is ready for what should be a challenging first two days.

With stormy weather soaking the course at Augusta National Golf Club on Wednesday, the Masters is already set to tee off Thursday in damp conditions. Adding to the mix will be blustering winds that could surpass 20 mph for each of the first two days of the tournament.

As for Mickelson, he’s hopeful that his years of experience will serve as an advantage at Augusta National, a place he has won the Masters three times.

“The weather is going to come in and that's going to magnify the misses for a lot of players, which means that you need to miss it in the correct spots,” Mickelson said. “Even though you might miss it big, if you're in the right spot, you can take advantage of your short game and salvage a lot of pars, and I hope to rely on that knowledge and skill to keep myself in it heading into the weekend where players less experienced with the golf course will possibly miss it in the wrong spots and shoot themselves out.”

Mickelson is set to compete in his 25th Masters at the age of 46. If he wins, he will be the oldest to ever do so but not by much. The oldest player to ever win the Masters is Jack Nicklaus, who did so in 1986 at the age of 46 years, two months and 23 days. Mickelson is barely older as he turns 47 on June 16.

But Mickelson, the 18th-ranked golfer in the world, hasn’t won a tournament since capturing British Open in 2013. Mickelson has finished in the top 10 14 times since that victory but has been in a title slump.

Mickelson hopes to bounce back with a strong week in less than ideal playing conditions at the Masters.

“I think the last year and a half, I've worked really hard to get my game back to the level that I expect and the level that I've strived for,” Mickelson said. “If I can play anywhere close to the way I played at the British Open last year and The Ryder Cup, I should be able to give myself a good opportunity for Sunday.”

It took Mickelson some time to finally break through and win a Masters. He competed at the Masters for the first time in 1991, when Ian Woosnam won it, and didn’t win the green jacket until 2004 after shooting a 9 under during the tournament’s four days.

Mickelson would go on to also claim Masters titles in 2006 (7 under) and 2010 (16 under).

“You get treated like royalty here as a past champion,” Mickelson said. “I just can't get over the way the club, the chairman, everybody here, all the members treat the past champions. It's the greatest feeling to be a part of that. And for somebody like myself, who grew up dreaming of this tournament, dreaming of winning here, to actually do it, still feels like a dream. Even having won it a few times, every one feels dream-like. And I look back and still can't believe that I get to be a part of this every year. It's the best.”

This story was originally published April 5, 2017 at 5:28 PM with the headline "Mickelson prepared for windy conditions at Masters."