Runner-up Westwood comforted by, not upset at, another major near-miss

Lee Westwood was sanguine in defeat, and already looking forward to the U.S. Open. And remember, Melanie Hauser says, Phil Mickelson missed a few majors before winning his first.

By Melanie Hauser, PGATOUR.COM Contributor

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Phil Mickelson had been there, done that.

Come up short. At the Masters. At the Open. At more majors than he wants to count.

He knows how it feels. How it stings. How it makes you wish the next major was, well, next week.

So when he had a quiet moment in the scoring hut with runner-up and playing partner Lee Westwood, Mickelson reminded the 36-year-old Brit that his time was coming.

And soon.

“As I said to him, ‘there's nothing I can say … there's nothing I can say,’” Mickelson said. “I've been in that position, and it sucks. But, I also told him he is playing some of the best golf of anybody in the world, he's an incredible player and I pull for him and I want him to win his first major soon, because he is that kind of talent, that type of player and a quality guy.’’

No one will disagree. The No. 4 player in the world has a confidence, a calm about him this year. He knows he’s playing the best golf of his life and now, he’s played his best Masters – nine shots better than he’s ever scored.

“He’s got a walk now,’’ said manager Chubby Chandler. “He looks like he owns it.’’

The course, that is.

As for majors?  He’s finished third-third-second in the last three majors and has nine top 10s in majors. Across the board. He’s contended in all four majors at very different styles of courses.

“I think I just need to keep doing what I'm doing,’’ Westwood said. “One of these days the door is going to open for me. ‘’

If Mickelson hadn’t caught fire, it could have happened Sunday. Westwood, the third-round leader, certainly played well enough to win.

He was the steady one on the front nine.  A birdie at the second hole gave him the sole lead, then a bogey at the fourth left him tied with Mickelson. He grabbed the lead back on the fifth and he held it until Mickelson grabbed a share of it with a birdie at the eighth. But after a bogey at 11, he was playing catch-up.

“I didn't get off to a fast start like I would have wished today really, being one shot in the lead, I got 2  or 3 under through seven or eight holes, and maybe it would have been a different result,’’ Westwood said. “But didn't quite drive the ball as well over the first few holes.”

And the back nine? He threw out a 34 to Mickelson’s 32. None of that’s easy under pressure or when you’re up against a guy who already has won three majors.

“Had some good chances coming in,’’ Westwood said “Wanted to put Phil under some pressure.  The only disappointing thing on the back nine was not birdieing 15 after two good shots there.  I got a real hard bounce with a 6-iron that was coming almost out of the clouds, and it still released through the back.

“And thought I hit a good chip but just checked up on me a bit and hit a little spike mark on my line and hit it and the putt went straight left. That was the only disappointing thing on the back nine.’’

Westwood had Mickelson’s respect before they teed it up. The now three-time Masters champ didn’t think Westwood would crack. He expected par or better from him and, he got it. A 1-under 71.

“Before the round, I was excitedly nervous but once we got out there and got going, I felt really calm and just enjoyed the experience,’’ said Westwood, whose previous best Masters finish was a tie for sixth in 1999. “You know, the crowd were obviously on Phil's side more than nine but they were very respectful and they clapped both of us on to the greens and clapped us when we hit good shots.

“You know, it was a good day on the golf course out there.’’

And one that produced a little chuckle when longtime London Times writer John Hopkins had a senior moment and asked Westwood a question that began, “Phil …”

Westwood, who has a dry sense of humor, just laughed.

“I'm Lee,” he said. “Phil is coming in in a minute.  He'll be wearing a Green Jacket.”

Yes, Westwood is that at ease. And that pleased with where he is right now.

When his children were born, he lost interest in the game, which says something, considering he won seven times in 2000. He fell off the charts, out of the top 250 in the world ranking.

He’s fought his way back, sliding first into the top 50, then winning last year’s Race to Dubai. And, finishing tied for third at both the 2009 British Open and PGA Championship.

Now this. Followed, of course, by the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, the Open Championship at St. Andrews and the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits.

“I'm looking forward it,’’ he said. “If you sat me down at the start of the year and asked me to rate which ones suit me, I would probably put the Masters last and say it was the one that suited me the least.  So to finish second is obviously a massive boost for the rest of the year.

“I've just got to keep doing the things I'm doing.  I think my short game can still improve, even though it's a lot, lot better, it was a master class from Phil out there around the greens.  That's the sort of standard you've got to be up to.’’

He’s right there.

“I don't think you ever stop learning,’’ he said. Although I wouldn't have done anything differently today, really.
   
“But you know, technically, I think I can still get better in all aspects of the game, and just fine tune everything.  It's a very fine line between finishing second and winning. ‘’

Like Phil, he’s now been there, done that. Come close. Touched that fine line.

Now he’s ready to close the deal. And, trust us, he will. And soon.