Countdown to The Masters 2011 – Day Four: Mickelson’s shot from the trees

Welcome to Day Four of the Today’s Golfer Countdown to The Masters 2011. Every day from February 17th until the big day when the season’s first Major tees off, April 7th, we will be bringing you some of our favourite memorable moments from The Masters since the tournament started in 1934.

Phil Mickelson is loved for his swashbuckling style and that was perfectly demonstrated by his second shot to the par-5 13th on his way to a third Green Jacket last year.

Lefty pulled his drive into the right-hand trees. He was 207 yards back with wood all around him so he’d have to lay up short of Rae’s Creek and attempt a pitch and a putt for birdie, right? Wrong.

He reached for a 6-iron and proceeded to strike one of the greatest shots in Masters history; contacting the ball perfectly off the pine straw lie, firing it between two trees and bending it back toward the pin through the air.

It pitched just over Rae’s Creek and came to rest just four feet from the hole. Unfortunately Mickelson missed the eagle putt, but the birdie was enough to send him on to victory.

Talking about the gap he threaded the ball through, Mickelson said: “There was a good four or five feet I thought between them, and it was close, it’s not like it had to stay in that area for a long time.

“It was right in front of me. I just needed to make a decent swing and it’s going to start off in that gap.”

He added: “I just felt like at that time, I needed to trust my swing and hit a shot, and it came off perfect.”

Mickelson took on a risky shot with a Major title on the line and received his just rewards for his superb execution; an eagle and a third Masters title.

RETURN TO THE MASTERS COUNTDOWN >>>