Reason #16,239 To Do Something About The Ball: Phil And Colonial Edition

Bill Nichols reports that Phil Mickelson has permanently changed up his Texas schedule, dropping Colonial for the Byron Nelson.

It's a golf architecture-driven decision.

Designer Keith Foster was brought in to renovate and move fairway bunkers that had grown obsolete. He changed the pitch of some landing areas to keep pros from hitting downslopes that were never supposed to be reached from the tee.

``With the redesign, I’m afraid I won’t be playing it anymore,’’ Mickelson said. ``It doesn’t give me a power advantage. I know all the shotmakers will be there every year. But I don’t see any of the long hitters playing there anymore. There’s no decision making now; it’s all irons, irons, irons.’’

The rationale is certainly understandable if you are trying to get ready for a U.S. Open, or as he states, you value your power advantage. Though he may be hitting his fair share of irons off the tees at Olympic Club!