Licensed to thrill: Phil Mickelson has shown he's far from over the hill with his Pebble Beach 業績／成果 ? and his remarkable 復帰 could send him to the US Open on 長所

• e-mail

Phil Mickelson （機の）カム up short on Sunday in his 企て，努力，提案 to 勝利，勝つ one of the oldest events on the PGA 小旅行する, the Pebble Beach プロの／賛成の-am, for a 記録，記録的な／記録する sixth time.

The leftie's 失望 was palpable after failing to 辛勝する／優位 one 勝利，勝つ ahead of Tiger 支持を得ようと努めるd for the most victories ever 達成するd by any player in their home 明言する／公表する of California.

In the final 分析, Mickelson had to settle for third place, five 一打／打撃s 流浪して of the winning 得点する／非難する／２０ 地位，任命するd by Canadian Nick Taylor, as he unravelled in the 突風 微風s, に引き続いて a 有望な start to his final 一連の会議、交渉／完成する. Mickelson の近くにd within two 一打／打撃s with four 穴を開けるs to play but credit Taylor for 生き残るing a 中央の-一連の会議、交渉／完成する 危機 to （人命などを）奪う，主張する his second victory on the PGA 小旅行する.?

Ph il Mickelson 辛うじて failed in his 罰金 企て，努力，提案 to 勝利，勝つ the Pebble Beach プロの／賛成の-am for a sixth time

The 退役軍人 finished five 一打／打撃s shy of the 勝利を得た total managed by Canadian Nick Taylor

As for the man who has won no より小数の than 44 times, the sense of デフレ surely lasted no longer than it took to 操縦する his 私的な 計画（する） 支援する 負かす／撃墜する the coast to San Diego.

For almost a year, the man known affectionately as 'Phil the Thrill' had looked distinctly over the hill. Without so much as a 最高の，を越す ten finish in all that time, and his 50th birthday coming up in June, it was hardly surprising the 冒険的な obituaries were 用意が出来ている.

Now, followi ng 連続した 最高の，を越す three finishes, we're left wondering if perhaps we were too 迅速な. Is the man who earned his 愛称 借りがあるing to his remarkable Houdini escapades around the greens ready to pull off his biggest 魔法 trick of all?

Looking five years younger than his age after losing 30lbs in 負わせる, the 復帰 began at the Saudi Invitational eight days ago, where he finished tied third.

A one off? Mickelson 敏速に flew halfway 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the world - and, in his own words, 'played like a stallion,' over the first three days at Pebble Beach.?

The American had 苦しむd a 危機 in form and 信用／信任 which saw him 落ちる out of the 最高の，を越す 50

Mickelson's new-設立する 信用／信任 長，率いるing into the meat of the season was illustrated by some comments 表明するd beside the Monterey 半島 last week that were as jaw-dropping as the scenery.

Asked about the vanilla Distance Insight 報告（する）／憶測 published last Tuesday that somehow took the g overning 団体／死体s two years to 準備する, Mickelson sighed and said: 'We must be the only major professional sport still 治める／統治するd by amateurs.'??

If that was not cutting enough for the USGA, Mickelson was just getting started. 権利 now, he's not in the field for their pride and joy, the US Open, the only major he hasn't won and where he's finished 走者-up six times. This year it's 存在 行う／開催する／段階d at Winged Foot, the scene of his most 劇の 近づく 行方不明になる, where he took a 二塁打 bogey at the 18th in 2006 and didn't spare himself. 'How stupid can you get?' he pronounced.

Mickelson was 確かな , therefore, to receive a special 控除 the USGA 手渡す out in such instances. Except, Mickelson made it やめる （疑いを）晴らす they would be wasting their time.?

'I wouldn't 受託する it,' he said. 'Either I get into the field on my own or I don't play. I don't want a sympathy 位置／汚点／見つけ出す.' With the Mickelson mojo on the rise once more, he will surely make it.

That horrendous run of form last year saw his proud 記録，記録的な／記録する of 25 連続した seasons in the world's 最高の，を越す 50 come to an end.?

Now 72nd, this showing will move him 支援する inside the 最高の，を越す 60 - good enough to earn a US Open 位置／汚点／見つけ出す if he stays there by the middle of May.

一方／合間, on the European 小旅行する, Australian Min 支持を得ようと努める 物陰／風下 won the Handa Vic Open by two 一打／打撃s from New Zealander Ryan Fox. Running と一緒に it was an LPGA event （人命などを）奪う，主張するd by South Korea's Hee Young Park.

Mickelson has rediscovered the class that has 許すd him to 勝利，勝つ every major 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業 the US Open