Phil Mickelson returns to Royal Melbourne this week joining Tiger Woods as the only two Americans to have competed in the 1998 Presidents Cup and the last time it was held in Australia.
The 1998 Presidents Cup remains also the only occasion the International Team has captured the biannual competition.
Mickelson earned just one point from his four matches around Royal Melbourne.
Phil Mickelson happily spends 30 minutes after his round signing autographs. (Photo - Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
The American made his Presidents Cup debut in the inaugural event in 1994 and a year before making his first appearance in the Ryder Cup.
All up, Mickelson has since been a member of each and every USA Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup side and that equates to eight Ryder Cups and just as many President Cups.
In addition, Mickelson has been on two winning Ryder Cup teams and six victorious USA President Cup sides.
But after completing his Barclays Singapore Open duties he was asked by www.golfbytourmiss.com why he felt the Americans dominated in the President Cup while they have struggled in recent years to win the Ryder Cup from the Europeans.
“The simple answer to that question is that the Europeans have played better than us in the Ryder Cup and we’ve played better than the Internationals in the Presidents Cup,” he said.
“But as to why that is the case I don’t have a great answer for you.”
Mickelson posted a final round 70 in Singapore for a five under par tally and a share of 33rd place.
And with electrical storms forcing the outcome of the event into a Monday morning finish, Mickelson would be pleased to be on a flight and heading to Melbourne rather than being stuck in rain-affected Singapore.
“I’m going to Melbourne with my game in good shape but as we are playing in a team event it means you are going to have to make a lot of birdies,” he said.
“I feel as though my game is pretty close as my second and third round here in Singapore was a whole lot better than the first.”
While the intensity of the Ryder Cup seemingly easily outweighs the Presidents Cup, Mickelson admitted that out inside the ropes in a Presidents Cup is just as intense as any Ryder Cup.
“The Presidents Cup might seem a lot more relaxed than compared to a Ryder Cup but let me assure it is not,” he said.
“You still feel the pressure of representing your country. You still the excitement and the nervousness on the first tee.
“But I’m looking forward to going back to Melbourne as it’s been some time. It is one of my favourite cities in the world. It’s a very clean and tidy city with some great golf courses.”
And Mickelson is looking forward to catching up with Woods who returned to some form in finishing third in the Emirates Australian Open.
“I have played with him a couple of times throughout the year and you can tell his swing speed has come back,” said Mickelson.
“I don’t when it will all click and he will be back but I feel it is evitable he will get back there, as he seems to be getting better and better.”
