The Color Of Envy

"The stress-free walk up 18 was incredible," said Mickelson, who had a three-shot lead before bogeying the final hole. "I've wanted that experience in a major for a long time. What a way to finish a long day, but a wonderful day."

There's much to like about the Mickelson who has evolved in the last 30 months. In '03, as his failures on the golf course mounted, Mickelson took a hard and comprehensive look at himself, from his poor diet to his spotty conditioning to his practice habits and even his penchant for gambling. His wife's difficult delivery of their third child that year also scared him into maturity. His "makeover," from a woe-is-me excuse maker into a think-positive self-critical athlete, was worthy of a self-help TV special.

Now, he's more physically fit, has a trusted practice regimen with coaches Dave Pelz and Rick Smith, and won't even place a bet on the Super Bowl, much less try a risky shot with a 230-yard carry over a water hazard. Perhaps it took 0 for 42, as well as his wife's health scare, for Mickelson to see himself clearly, flaws and all. Summation: You're a lucky guy. Shape up.

"I look back on the old Masters highlights. I watched some things I've done and I've learned," Mickelson said. "It's taken me years to realize that 5 is a good score at the [par-5] 15th hole. You feel like you've got to make birdie. But when I tried to force it, I'd make 6 or 7 and knock myself out of the tournament. It's okay to make par there. It's not going to kill me.

"Things like that . . . you can't just cram that knowledge in. It takes awhile."

Now that he's learned so many hard lessons by experience, Mickelson may become an even tougher competitor with the years. On the 18th hole in the morning, as he completed his third round, he was bothered in his back swing by a photographer's shutter. He was nettled for the rest of the hole and made bogey. But, by afternoon, he'd moved on.

Also, the revamping of Augusta National -- designed to minimize the advantage of power hitters -- seemed to bother Mickelson the least. While shorter hitters and more accurate drivers contended on more even terms, Mickelson took the pinching of fairways beyond 300 yards in stride.

Woods has intimidated his Tour foes for years. But now, it seems, Mickelson is doing the same. When Tim Clark was asked if he was surprised that Mickelson played a bogey-free final round until the 18th hole, when the win was safely in hand, the runner-up said: "No. Phil did shoot 28 under last week" in winning the BellSouth Classic.

Fred Couples played with Mickelson and was his most serious competition until a three-putt at the 14th hole. Yet he seemed overshadowed by his longtime friend. "I don't think Phil was too worried about me beating him," Couples said.

Except for Woods, who might easily have challenged in this Masters with normal Tiger putting, there may not be anybody in golf who worried the new, improved Mickelson of the past two years.

What's the difference between the 0 for 42 Mickelson and the man who'll head to the U.S. Open with half of a Phil Slam?

"I'm certainly a lot cheerier now," Mickelson said.

And likely to remain so.