Humana Challenge: Phil Mickelson set for first outing since Ryder Cup

Phil Mickelson has been careful to stay out of the limelight ahead of his long-awaited return to action in this week’s Humana Challenge in California.

The six-time major champion is coming off one of the worst seasons of his career in 2014, going winless for the first time since 2003 and recording only one top-10 finish in 21 starts on the PGA Tour.

Mickelson has not played any competitive golf since his infamous press conference following America’s Ryder Cup defeat last September, when he was openly critical of captain Tom Watson.

The 44-year-old has spent much of his extended winter break working hard on his fitness with his personal trainer Sean Cochran, and he has also restructured his schedule for 2015 – announcing last month that he will not play at either Pebble Beach or Riviera in mid-February.

Having described last year as his “most difficult” since joining the PGA Tour in 1992, Mickelson is expected to follow the lead of Steve Stricker and play a reduced schedule this season in the hope of being fresher for the bigger events.

Mickelson skipped the Humana Challenge last season, but he returns this week looking to add to his impressive collection of titles on the West Coast Swing.

He has won 16 of his 42 PGA Tour victories in California and Arizona, although he has not tasted success at La Quinta since lifting the trophy for the second time in 2004.

The San Diego native has made 78 career appearances in the five West Coast tournaments, winning each of them at least twice while recording a stunning cumulative score of 507 under par.

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Mickelson admitted in his website blog last month that he struggled with all aspects of his game last year, but he insisted his below-par performance has motivated him to make 2015 a “special” season.

“It was a bad year statistically in all areas,” Mickelson said. “I didn’t drive the ball as well I can or expected to. My short irons were worse than they’ve been in my entire career. My short game really wasn’t really sharp. My putting was not at the level I expect.

“But, it has also motivated me to make next year special.”

Mickelson’s lone top 10 of 2014 came at the US PGA Championship at Valhalla, where he held the lead on the back nine before finishing a shot adrift of world No 1 Rory McIlroy.

“The PGA was the highlight and could have really turned the year around if I could have held on to win,” he added. “Instead it was just a close call. Not winning made it the worst year of my career.”