Slimmed-down Phil Mickelson says he’ll continue to make ‘lifestyle change’

Phil Mickelson has bought in to a new workout regimen over the past several months, and he doesn’t plan on altering it anytime soon.

“I’m going to continue to make it a lifestyle change,” Mickelson said on Wednesday at this week’s Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. “I’m going to continue to eat better, eat less, work out more, just stay committed to it. It won’t be as drastic or quick, but I would anticipate over the next one to two years I would continue to tick down a little bit [in weight].”

Prior to the Open Championship, Mickelson took to Twitter to announce he lost 15 pounds in 10 days using a “six-day fast with water and a special coffee blend for wellness.” A month later his sister, Tina, posted a picture of a trimmed-down Lefty at the beach and, more recently, Mickelson shared a portion of his intense core workout on social media.

Despite the weight loss, Mickelson said his driving distance hasn’t suffered. (He’s still able to hit bombs.) He said when he first lost 25 to 30 pounds he wasn’t as strong, but then he just hit the gym more often.

“The amount that I lift is now significantly more than it was before,” he said.

But can Mickelson’s specific diet and fitness plan work for everyone?

“I think that eating and working out and lifestyles are very personal and everybody needs to find what’s works for them,” he said. “It’s taken me a little while. Ultimately we all need to be accountable for our own health, and I haven’t done a great job of that throughout my career. I wish I had done better. It’s not too late. I’m getting after it now.”

Mickelson is grouped with Kevin Na and Tony Finau for the first two rounds of the Shriners. They tee off at 10:10 a.m. ET on Thursday.