In position to win his third straight major, an old stranger visited Phil Mickelson as he approached the final hole of the final round in the U.S. Open.
"Phil the Thrill" Mickelson, Lefty's alter ego, had vanished two green jackets ago, but returned from his vacation just as Mickelson prepared to tee off from the 18th hole. As Mickelson walked up to the tee box, he held a one-stroke lead and needed a comfortable par to put him in line to match Tiger Woods' modern-day record of winning four consecutive majors.
Mickelson had dominated the back-nine through three rounds of play and just had to follow routine by hitting fairway off his drive. Six strokes later, Aussie Geoff Ogilvy held the U.S. Open trophy and Mickelson was in a familiar position - tied for runner-up; the fourth time since 1999.
Any comparison to Jean Van de Velde's collapse at the British Open seems too far-fetched, considering Mickelson's recent track record, but one thing is safe to say: "Phill the Thrill" has not left the building.
Reach the reporter at james.schmehl@asu.edu.