New and improved Mickelson primed to repeat

One year after correctly picking Phil Mickelson to win the Masters, I’m ready to do it again. And this year I feel even better about the choice.

While Chris Baldwin waxes poetic - “Mickelson will forever be the romantic pick and seldom the realistic one” - it’s clear our favorite blogger is stuck in 2003. Back then, I would’ve agreed with Baldwin’s argument. Mickelson wasn’t mature enough to take that next step. But after a disastrous 2003 season (for Mickelson, at least), he changed his entire approach to the game. Thanks to his work with Dave Pelz and Rick Smith - plus an intelligent change in equipment - he seems more focused than ever.

And for what it’s worth, I love the fact that Mickelson stuck around to win the BellSouth yesterday. How can this possibly be a bad thing? ("Oh, the horror. Lefty missed a day of practice at Augusta.” Please.) If anything, winning in wet conditions should serve him well this week at Augusta, where the forecast calls for rain starting Thursday.