The Wild Story of Phil Mickelson’s “Surgery” Driver Before His 2010 Masters Win

Phil Mickelson’s Driver “Surgery” Before His 2010 Masters Win: A Crazy Story

Phil Mickelson fans, listen up! There’s a surprising factor behind Phil’s 2010 Masters victory. It all involves a damaged driver and a last-minute fix that some might consider a lucky charm.

A Cracked Driver, A Determined Golfer

While Mickelson’s use of two drivers in 2006 is a well-known story, a lesser-known incident from 2010 holds just as much intrigue. The week before the Masters, Mickelson cracked the carbon composite shell of his Callaway FT Tour TA driver. Unlike a typical replacement, this particular driver needed a more intricate solution due to the material.

A High-Stakes Operation: Saving “Lefty’s” Driver

With the Masters looming, Mickelson couldn’t simply swap out his driver. Callaway’s senior VP of R&D, Dr. Alan Hocknell, performed an unprecedented repair. The procedure involved removing the damaged body while keeping the shaft intact to preserve loft and lie. The repaired driver was then flown to Augusta and delivered to Mickelson during his practice round.

Driver Revived, Confidence Soared

Mickelson went on to use the repaired driver throughout the tournament, ranking second in driving distance and ultimately winning the Masters by three strokes. This story highlights the importance of feel and trust in a golfer’s equipment, even if it requires extraordinary measures to maintain.