Phil Mickelson Barely Missed a Playoff with Vaughn Taylor at Pebble Beach, Looks to be on Form

Phil Mickelson had yet another run at winning a tournament in 2016, but this time missed making it into a playoff with Vaughn Taylor, who hasn’t won on Tour in 11 years and hasn’t been a full member of the PGA Tour in three, on the final hole at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-AM. Phil, who led by two entering the final round, struggled all day but gave himself a chance on the 18th hole. Had he managed to make it into a playoff and collect a win, it would have been the fifth career win at Pebble for the lefty.

The putt he missed on 18 was brutally close.

" Phil to force a playoff… #QuickHits https://t.co/tOX6E8Gm6i — PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 14, 2016 "

"“Never crossed my mind that I wouldn’t make that one,” Mickelson said. “When it didn’t go in, I was a bit shocked.” *** “The positive is that I’m having more fun playing golf right now that I’ve had in years,” the 45-year-old Mickelson said. “I’ve got control of the golf ball. I’m hitting a variety of shots and pulling them off with ease, and I’m just having a lot of fun. “As nervous as I was and as disappointed as I am that I didn’t win, this was so much fun for me to get back in the thick of it and feel the pressure. … But it just tells me I’ve got a little bit more work to do.”"

Things seem to be turning around for Phil though after he left long-time coach Butch Harmon in search of a change to help him get back to the top. Lefty hasn’t won on Tour since claiming the 2013 Open Championship, but all signs seem to point to him collecting a win soon.

This season alone Phil has finished tied for third at the CareerBuilder Challenge, missed the cut at the Farmers Insurance Open, finished tied for 11th at the Phoenix Open, and now has a second place finish at Pebble on his resume.

Up next for Phil is The Honda Classic at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

To his credit, Vaughn Taylor trailed Mickelson by six entering the final round and finished his last nine holes five under. He was seven-under for the round and played spectacularly well. Taylor didn’t even pack a full set of luggage with him for the trip because it made his flight cheaper. The win will earn him a trip to the Masters and full-time status for the rest of the season and next season. Now Taylor has a spot in the Northern Trust Open next week; his original plan was to make it into the event through a Monday qualifier.

[PGA]