Phil Mickelson could have best year yet this coming season says coach Dave Pelz

Phil Mickelson’s golf game is technically as good as it’s ever been and, if he can stay in good health, he can have one of his best ever campaigns next season, according to his short game coach Dave Pelz.

Mickelson struggled for form last year as he endured the first calendar year without a victory since 2003, and finished with a disappointing Ryder Cup defeat at Gleneagles.

However, short game guru Pelz has seen enough of Mickelson in practice to know that his all-round game is spot-on from a technical standpoint.

He’s not a god given talent, he’s a good athlete but he’s not a great athlete, but he’s a great player and the best ever wedge player I’ve seen.

It is well-known that Mickelson suffers from arthritis, although he rarely talks about it and never uses it as an excuse for a bad performance, but it’s clear that he struggles in the cold and wet weather.

On form and with the sun on his back though, Pelz says that Mickelson still believes the best years are still ahead of him despite being 44, and there’s nothing in his game that suggests anything other than a big year to come.

“He’s really had a tough year this year but I’m hoping that next year he’ll have his best ever because technically when we’re out there and he’s feeling good he’s the best he’s ever been at every part of his game,” Pelz told Sky Sports at the Golf Trade Show in Harrogate.

“And I know that because I measure it and he’s the best he’s ever been. And he’s still thinking that his career best years are ahead of him. Even though now he’s 44 and the press says he’s too old

“But let me tell you Phil can still play, when he’s out there and feeling good and it’s warm – look out because the guy can still really play. And from what I’ve seen he can still play better than he’s ever played.”

Putting

Pelz, a renowned short game specialist, says Mickelson is the best wedge player he’s ever seen and while his putting has been his Achilles heel in recent times, that’s an area he’s convinced he’ll improve next year.

“The main key with him is practice - he puts a lot of time in, he’s got great technique of course and he’s been doing it for a long time with the same technique, he’s very repeatable,” Pelz added.

“He’s not a god given talent, he’s a good athlete but he’s not a great athlete, but he’s a great player and the best ever wedge player I’ve seen.

“When I first started working for him he was famous for missing short putts, not famous but as great a player he is, he missed a few too many short ones. He’s been getting better though. He plays a little bit too much break on the short putts and not enough on the long ones.

“He’s worked a little bit with Dave Stockton as well and he’s improving. He’s putting OK – I don’t think it’s as good as it’s going to be next year though, but it will be once he’s practiced a bit more.”

Ryder Cup

Although the Ryder Cup is still a sore point for Pelz, and of course Mickelson, who caused a stir in his post-event comments about captain Tom Watson – Pelz is yet to discuss it with Lefty himself.

“I’ve texted Phil and we’ll talk about it when I next see him. But what came out first in the American press was from one of the players who said ‘frequently wrong but never in doubt – that’s our captain’.

The Europeans dominated at Gleneagles with the likes of Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy the stars – and Pelz has the greatest of admiration in particular for the world No 1.

“I look around at players who need to up their short game - Hunter Mahan needs to improve his short game, as does Lee Westwood.

“With Rory, he’s not the best short game player but he is really good, and I’ve never seen a better driver, iron player, short game player and putter than Rory in terms of there’s no weakness.

“He’s probably top five or ten in all of those categories and that’s amazing. I don’t know how he could ever score poorly – he’s just a great player and I don’t know if there’s going to be anybody better.”