"Everything was really cool" - Phil Mickelson 'appreciative' of going back to Augusta National ahead of the 2023 Masters

Phil Mickelson was at the Augusta National over the weekend prior to the 2023 Masters, which is set to begin next week. This was his first visit there since 2021 as he skipped the event last year.

Mickelson was asked about it during a brief interview before the LIV Golf's next event in Orlando, which begins on Friday this week.

“Everything was really cool," Mickelson told Sports Illustrated. "Yeah, it was great. I’m very appreciative to go back."

Mickelson didn't come to defend his PGA Championship title last year, nor did he play in the 2022 Masters. He didn't play for four months before eventually signing a LIV Golf contract.

Masters invitees are allowed to play practice rounds at the course. The 52-year-old golfer was interested to see the transformation of the par-5 13th course.

“I couldn’t reach it (in two) because I couldn’t far enough past the trees. You just hit it straight and then you have that hanging (lie) second shot and you have about 215 (yards) to 220 to the front, so about 242 to 245 to the hole.

“What probably went unnoticed is left of the green is not as severe. So if you do over miss it a little left, up and down is not as difficult as previously. It’s still hard, but it’s not like it used to be."

He said he has had problems on the 13th hole previously as it was very wet when he played.

“Everybody’s got to play it but I don’t know yet. It was very wet when we played," he was quoted saying via Sports Illustrated. "I think it could be great to have a harder shot second, that it was designed to have. If it’s drier, and the ball goes a little farther, we might be able to get there."

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Phil Mickelson's performance at Masters

Phil Mickelson's most recent win at The Masters came in 2010

Phil Mickelson first appeared at The Masters in 1991 as an amateur. He has made 30 appearances in the tournament. He has missed the tournament only twice. The first was in 1994 due to a skiing accident and the second was last year due to reasons best known to Mickelson himself.

The 52-year-old has won The Masters thrice in his career. The 2004 victory was Phil's first major title win, which came in his 13th year on the Tour. He won the 2006 Championship after posting a 3-under on the fourth day, beating Tim Clark by a margin of two shots. His last Masters win came in 2010 when he defeated Lee Westwood by three strokes.

In his most recent appearance at Augusta National, Mickelson finished in T-21 at the 2021 Masters and went on to win the PGA Championship a month later. His PGA Championship victory at the age of 50 made him the oldest major champion.

Phil Mickelson has struggled with the form in recent times. He has slipped to World No. 395 as LIV professionals are barred from OWGR. Mickelson has made only one top-10 finish in the last 10 LIV events he has played. The golf veteran will hope to regain some form at Orlando prior to The Masters.