Phil Mickelson has always been a gambler on the golf course. High-risk shots, mind-bending recoveries, and a flair for the dramatic—it’s what makes Lefty, well, Lefty. But the game has remodeled itself. The young generation is faster, stronger, and can bomb the ball 350 yards down the fairway like it’s a video game. The fitness levels, I say!

Yet Mickelson isn’t losing his sleep over it. Instead, he’s finding another way to beat them. At the Hong Kong Open, we got our first real glimpse of his new master plan—and it’s not about overpowering the course.

Let’s get into Phil Mickelson’s alternative approach

Mickelson teed off at the Hong Kong Golf Club with a 3-under 67 in his first round. Seven birdies? Great. Four bogeys? Not so great. It was classic Mickelson—brilliant, chaotic, and unpredictable. But here’s the thing—he wasn’t trying to crush the ball like a 25-year-old.

“The last couple years, I’ve been playing outside myself, trying to overpower courses where I just don’t have the speed like the guys hitting 190 mph,“ he admitted. So, this off-season, he made a choice: stop fighting it. Play smarter. “I’ve got to find another way to shoot scores and try to beat these guys.” Let’s go, Phil! Keep the Generation X flag flying high!

Instead of hitting bombs, Mickelson focuses on precision, course management, and avoiding unnecessary mistakes. And Hong Kong’s tight, strategic course gave him the perfect testing ground.

And if you’re still doubting Mickelson’s ability to out-think the power hitters, ask John Daly.

Recently, Daly—never one to hold back—reminded Mickelson of his mind-blowing performance at the 2016 Open Championship. “You played your a– off… I mean, what, did you shoot the last round? 65, 66, and got beat? That was probably one of the greatest Majors I’ve ever seen in my life,“ Daly told Mickelson on his YouTube show. 

He wasn’t wrong!

Mickelson fired a final-round 65 at Royal Troon, only to lose to Henrik Stenson in one of the greatest duels in golf history. That week, Mickelson wasn’t the longest hitter. He was locked in, making the perfect shots at the appropriate time. And that’s exactly what he’s trying to channel now.

From ‘hitting bombs to playing chess on the course

Remember when Mickelson was all about “hitting bombs and hellacious seeds?”

Yeah, those days are fading…

But that doesn’t mean he’s done competing. If he can clean up his mistakes, keep rolling in birdies, and let the young guys burn themselves out chasing distance, we might see vintage Lefty again. This is a guy who claimed 45 PGA Tour wins. You just can’t roll him off the green like that!

In 2024, he had a longest drive of 328. Yes, the young golfers can smack the ball longer. Yet, he hit the longest drive of 347 in 2023. Yes, age is catching up to him. So, playing smart might be the way forward. Daly’s reminder wasn’t just nostalgia—it was a wake-up call. Mickelson has been here before. The question now is: Can he outsmart the speedsters and prove that experience still beats power? 

If anyone can, it’s Lefty.