NORTON – “Lefty’’ says he isn’t quite right, but beyond that, Phil Mickelson either won’t or can’t pinpoint what condition his condition is in.
“I wasn’t seeing the shot,’’ he said Saturday, mulling a season in which he has yet to finish first, second, or third in a tournament — a first in his celebrated career. “I didn’t think it was a medical thing.’’
For his first two rounds here at the Dell Technologies Championship, the 47-year-old Mickelson has looked a lot more like the young Lefty of old. He carded an economical 4-under-67 in Round 2 on Saturday and comfortably made the cut with his two-day total 6-under par.
A PGA icon, with over $83 million in career winnings, Mickelson this year finished in the top 10 in only four of the 20 events he entered prior to arriving at the end of Arnold Palmer Boulevard. Three years short of qualifying for the senior tour, he simply could be aging out in a sport that favors the free-swinging twentysomethings that he used to be.
Or maybe, as he hopes, Mickelson’s game is just getting back on register, like the days when he routinely pocketed $5 million in annual winnings. He scooted around TPC Boston with a 69 on Friday, improved that by two strokes on Saturday, and kept himself on solid footing to move onto Stage 3 of the FedExCup playoffs in Lake Forest later this month,.
“It’s encouraging,’’ said Mickelson. “It’s been so frustrating to know that I’ve been striking it or playing at a certain level and the scores haven’t reflected it. It’s been frustrating, being on the course and not being able to visualize or see the shot I’m trying to hit and make a swing without much purpose or direction.’’
His mediocre play this season, with his earnings sinking to $1.78 million, has left Mickelson a question mark for the upcoming Presidents Cup, when the best in the US will take on an international (non-Euro) squad at Liberty National in Jersey City.
If Mickelson is aboard, it will be at the invite of US captain Steve Stricker. Betting is that Stricker will keep him on the team, a show of respect for a legend who has played in all 11 Presidents Cups, along with the last 11 Ryder Cups.
“Well, he needs to do what’s best for the team,’’ said Mickelson, referring to Stricker. “He needs to get the best guys on the team. These are fun events, but they are also important and we want to win. As a captain, it’s his job, his responsibility, to make the tough decisions and do what’s in the best interests of the team — I support that either way.’’
Hoffmann heats upThe round of the day belonged to Morgan Hoffmann, who chopped up the course with a 75 on Friday and returned with a blistering 64 to be comfortably above the cut at 3 under.
Hoffmann, 28, mopped up on the back nine with three birdies and an eagle for a 30. On the front nine, he also eagled No. 4.
He turned pro in 2011 and entered the weekend ranked No. 83 in FedEx points. The top 70 move on to Stage 3 at East Lake GC in Atlanta.
Adam Hadwin and Paul Casey, runner-up to Rory McIlroy here last year, each were 1 under on Friday and followed with identical 6 unders in Round 2.
Loud and clear
Boston’s boisterous galleries did not escape the eye or ear of Jordan Spieth.
“Yeah, they were loud,’’ he said. “They were drunk. It felt different than a golf tournament. I mean, there were guys yelling at me, ‘Spieth, JT’s better!’ Or, Spieth, DJ’s better!’ You just never really hear that. Normally, in a golf crowd, if you like somebody better than someone else, they just root for them — not actually tell you how they feel about you.’’
Rain, rain go awayWith a substantial amount of rain in Sunday’s forecast, Round 3 tee times will be squeezed into a two-hour window, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., and in threesomes instead of pairs. The TPC Boston gates will open at 9:30 a.m. Similar to the opening two dates, the field will split, with rounds beginning at both first and 10th tees.
Kevin Paul Dupont can be reached at dupont@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @GlobeKPD.
