Big Play With John Elliott Jr.

When Phil Mickelson pushed his approach shot into a greenside
bunker at 14, he exposed his fatal flaw and triggered a
final-round collapse

ANALYSIS

Lefty's swing nemesis flares up when he gets overaggressive, as
he did while leading on the back nine on Sunday. His lower body
moves more slowly than his upper body, preventing him from
completing his pivot and causing him to hit a push. On the final
nine Mickelson pushed several key shots and made four bogeys.

THE TIP

JERK BACK AND SLAM DRILL
To get a full hip pivot, at impact jerk your left leg ramrod
straight and slam your right knee and thigh forward against your
left knee and thigh. To check if you've done the drill correctly,
hold your finish, then place the club at hip level with both
hands (as I am doing here). The shaft should be perpendicular to
the target and parallel to your shoulders.

AND ANOTHER THING ...

"Sources tell me that the USGA will ban all putters that touch a
part of the body other than the hands."

"Ricky Barnes won't be a successful Tour pro until he tones down
his game and learns to not go full bore on every shot."

"The most dramatic swing change I've seen this year is Chris
DiMarco's. Instead of his old Scott Hoch-style, outside-and-up
takeaway, DiMarco is now on plane from address to the top of his
backswing."

COLOR PHOTO: ERICK W. RASCO

COLOR PHOTO: COURTESY OF ABC (MICKELSON)

COLOR PHOTOMONTAGE: ERICK W. RASCO; JIM GUND (BACKGROUND)

Elliott teaches at Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club in
Ocala, Fla., and is a Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher.