Phil Mickelson might be the best wedge player in the world, just ask him (via PGA Tour pro Colt Knost):
I told Phil one day he's pretty good with his wedges, he replied "no, I'm really f'ing good with them" #legend #usopen
— Colt Knost (@ColtKnost) June 16, 2013
As you can see, he's quite confident with wedge in hand. So confident, that on Sunday at Merion he opted to take wedge off the green, keeping putter in the bag at No. 15. A significant undulation between his ball and the far back-right pin location prompted the unusual move. Phil thought he could get it closer to the cup by lofting it up and over the undulation as opposed to making some circus putt. It was not a bad idea, in theory, but even the world's best wedge player couldn't pull it off:
After thinning it all the way to the back of the green, he two putted for bogey to drop a shot off the lead.
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