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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

I had to reinvent my game to win The Open

MclLROY'S MISERYWhat's really going oninside Rory's world

DUFNER'SJOYFull round-up of theUS PGA at Oak Hill

TIGER'S STRUGGLESWhy golf's best playercan't win Majors any more

A huge shoulder coil, supported bygreat leg action and balance, arethe keys to Phil's prodigioushitting, says Luther Blacklock

When you have the flair, talent andcourage of Phil Mickelson, you can liveoutside the protection of orthodoxy thatlesser mortals require. Mickelson'sswing is now under the watchful eye ofthe world's best coach, Claude 'Butch'

Harmon. Harmon is, for me, the greatest living golfteacher because he knows how to impart disciplinewithout suppressing flair. It is impossible to ride abicycle without wobbling, yet we succeed in stayingupright as we wobble in and out of balance. The golfswing is the same. It is impossible to swing mechanicallyperfectly. As we study Phil Mickelson's technique over thenext few pages, we can identify minor characteristics thatcould become faults in the average weekend warrior. Thegolf swing is about controlling imperfection and 'Lefty' isthe world's best at doing it.

PHIL MICKELSON SWING

1. ADDRESSFolded left elbow gives the club room to swing.

2. MOVE AWAYWeight begins to load over a flexed left knee.

Ninety per cent of swingfaults start at address - andthe other 10 per cent start ataddress, too! Everythingabout Phil Mickelson's swingis foretold by his addressposition. The best thing tocopy is the way that his leftshoulder is positioned muchlower than his right. "Level"shoulders at addressinvariably force the shoulders

open (left) to the target.Phil's inclined shoulder line

is the doorway to his massiveshoulder coil. Note also howhis left elbow is folded gentlydownwards, thus offering noobstruction whatsoever in thetakeaway. His stance is alsoslightly closed (aiming left fora left-hander) to the target.This is no bad thing at all withthe driver in your hands.

The excellent posture of theprevious photo enablesMickelson to create massivewidth in his takeaway. Phil'sweight is obviously loadingover his flexed left knee.

A very interestingcharacteristic of Phil's swingis that, if anything, he hasmoved laterally to his leftand his spine angle is leaningaway from its address angle.

Despite this, however, thegreat width of his shoulderturn is creating a massivecoil over a slightly flexedleft knee.

Although the knee ispermitted to move a touch,it should not lose its flex.Despite a hint of sway here,Phil has initiated the coil ofhis torso and hips to absoluteperfection.

October 2013 Golf World 39

3.TOPOFTHEBAGKSWINGPerfect hip and leg action support the long backswing.

4. HALFWAY DOWNNarrow radius creates incredible lag and leverage.

Mickelson's huge shouldercoil combined with his slightlystrong grip and cupped wristhave got the shaft waybeyond horizontal. Try this athome because Phil's torso, hipand leg action are fantastic!You might not be able to coilthis far, but you can still copythe quality of his rotation.Despite the right arm beingtotally extended at address,

Phil's right arm has bent just alittle. However, it is better tosee the arm a little bent thanlocked rigid. Note also howpowerfully Phil's legs and hipshave coiled - the right kneebeing dragged into action viathe huge upper body rotation.Ideally, the legs should bemore active in the downswingthan in the backswing, but thereverse is true in Phil's case.

This photo harks back to thedays of the late, great TonyLema, who won the Open athis first and only attempt.Like Phil, 'Champagne' Tonygenerated a huge lag inthe shaft and clubhead. Thisincredible ability to delaythe hit is a huge sourceof power - one that veryfew weekend golfers canreplicate. Still, we can dream!

As Mickelson pulls the clubdown into the hitting zone, heneeds a fulcrum to generateall of that leverage. So as thearms, hands and wrists haveto work overtime, the legsand hips are forced to slowdown to provide thatleverage. If his downswingwas wide, like his takeaway,Phil's leg and hip action wouldbe much more active.

40 Golf World October 2013

PHIL MICKELSON SWING

5. IMPACTClubshaft, arms and body rise through the hitting zone.

6. FOLLOW-THROUGHPerfect balance is the antidote to violent impact.

Note how similar Phil's legaction is in this photo to thepreceding frame. It takeshuge strength to release theclubhead through some 12feet while the hands travel nomore than two or three feet.See also how the clubshafthas risen well above itsoriginal address plane asPhil's arms and body liftupwards in response to the

forces created by the releaseof the clubhead. It is clear thatMickelson's spine angle hasslumped somewhat throughimpact. In his case, it is minor,but many readers will havestood up much more by thisstage of the swing. Also, it isperfectly acceptable for thebutt of the club to rise atimpact - it would stay lowerfor a faded tee shot.

Saving Grace! Mickelson'sability to retain his balanceat the completion of such aviolent swing through theball is essential. Althoughhis hip clearance seems OK,his follow-through is notanywhere near as dynamic ashis top of the backswing.

You can bet your bottomdollar that Harmon is acutelyaware of the "characteristics"

in Phil's swing. Phil andyou, the reader, will havesome imperfections orcharacteristics in common.The key to successful golf,despite these "faults", is tohave great balance, mentalconviction, good coursemanagement and a finelyhoned short game. That's howPhil controls his imperfection- how about you?

October 2013 Golf World 41