Phil Mickelson is not going to tell you how much weight he has lost lately – and it is plenty. But he did reveal that it is all part of a plan to achieve something unprecedented in the sport.
Mickelson rewrote the record books when he became the oldest player to win a major championship with his triumph at the 2021 PGA Championship in Kiawah Island aged 50 years and 11 months.
That makes Mickelson, 52, exempt for every major championship until 2026. And now that he is unable to play on the PGA Tour because of his affiliation with LIV Golf, the American is determined to make his limited playing opportunities count.
Mickelson stepped away from the sport for nearly four months in February last year after excerpts from a book were released in which Mickelson made negative comments about the kingdom. This came weeks after he ripped apart the PGA Tour for being greedy.
Mickelson did not defend his PGA Championship title, and even though he played at the US Open and the Open Championship, his poor form plagued him throughout the LIV Golf season.
“Last year was a very interesting year and a lot of things transpired. I’m embarrassed with how I played. I wasn’t ready to play. I’m going to put that behind me and have a really good year,” said the six-time major winner on the eve of the $5 million Saudi International, the season-opening event on the Asian Tour.
“This year I’m excited to play and I really have some high expectations. I think I have a unique opportunity to do some things that have never been done before in this game at this age.
“I’m in all majors the next three years, and nobody has really had the opportunity to do some special things with the game at this age because they haven’t been injury-free. They would get hurt and they had some struggles when they got older. I’ve been able to play injury-free throughout my career and be in good shape at 52, and I know how to play at a high level.”
Mickelson said he is back to his “college weight” and has tried to do things differently since finishing his LIV season in Miami last October.
“I have a whole different energy. I’ve been rejuvenated. Best shape I’ve been in in a long time. I’m back to my college weight. It allows me to recover faster after I play,” said Mickelson.
“I’ve been able to work with a doctor on specific areas that are going to help me long-term, whether it’s eating the right foods, whether it’s getting rid of inflammation, whether it’s cognitive function or gut health or things like that. I really want to address all areas that can allow me to be my best.
“It has changed my blood work and given me more energy. I’ve noticed I’ve been able to recover and be ready for the next round a lot quicker.
“I’m changing some of the ways I practise to be more efficient. Rather than quantity, it’s much more quality driven. I’m seeing a difference when I go out and play in the way I am pulling the shots off on the golf course.
“I'm very optimistic about playing at a level that I expect to play at.”
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
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Chef Nobu's advice for eating sushi
“One mistake people always make is adding extra wasabi. There is no need for this, because it should already be there between the rice and the fish.
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“The ginger should be eaten separately as a palette cleanser and used to clear the mouth when switching between different pieces of fish.”
Libya's Gold
UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves.
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THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: seven-speed dual clutch automatic
Power: 169bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh54,500
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The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
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Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s
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What is tokenisation?
Tokenisation refers to the issuance of a blockchain token, which represents a virtually tradable real, tangible asset. A tokenised asset is easily transferable, offers good liquidity, returns and is easily traded on the secondary markets.
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
