Ryder Revelation: Phil Discovers Fairway Will Be Better Angle Of Attack Than Outside The Gallery Ropes

Alex Miceli reports on Phil Mickelson's pre-HSBC Champions press conference where talk centered around Ryder Cup heartbreak, and learning from playing partner Keegan Bradley just how much better you can be from the fairway.

Without seeing the video, I'm guessing this was said somewhat tongue-in-cheeking knowing Phil's dry wit:

“I saw some things where I can improve my game, and I have this new kind of excitement and energy that Keegan has, and it's rubbed off on me and I am excited to play and work and practice,” Mickelson said. “I saw an opportunity to where if I could drive the ball the way Keegan did, I would really have some opportunities and chances to do something special in my career and have some of my best finishes.”

Bradley understood Mickelson's perspective.

“In the alternate-shot format, I was putting Phil in some great spots, and Phil with a wedge or any sort of iron from the fairway is deadly,” Bradley said. “If he's got a wedge and it's outside 5 feet, I'm shocked. So I think he's going to try to focus in on getting the ball in the fairway more and in play, because he's the absolute best iron player I've ever seen.”