6 things we noticed watching Phil’s 2004 Masters final round broadcast

Although there is no Masters being played this weekend, we got the next-best thing: a rerun of memorable final rounds from years past. Today’s broadcast? The final round from 2004 culminating in Phil Mickelson’s epic jump.

As an added bonus, Mickelson joined CBS lead broadcaster Jim Nantz for color commentary throughout the round. Here are six things we noticed as Mickelson relived his first major win.

1. There was no panic after three early bogeys

Mickelson started the day tied for the lead and got off to a good start with a birdie on No. 2, but after that, the front nine was tough sailing. He bogeyed Nos. 3, 5 and 6 and dropped to 4-under and looked to be trending in the wrong direction. But despite the pressure of chasing his first major, Mickelson insisted he felt no panic.

“I felt like the tournament doesn’t begin until the back nine,” Mickelson said.

It’s a classic adage around the grounds of Augusta National, and it seems it creeps into the minds of competitors, too.

2. Par save at No. 10 jump-started the round

After the less-than-ideal 2-over opening nine, Mickelson was in desperate need of a spark. He got just that on the tricky 10th hole.

After an errant drive, Mickelson hit his recovery shot just short of the green. He got a little too frisky on the ensuing chip, which left him with a downhill, left-to-right slider for par. It snuck in the right side of the cup for a much-needed par save.

“I needed something to get me going,” Mickelson said. “That was the key to the entire round, because it kept me in the tournament.”

3. Phil heard the roar from Ernie’s eagle on 13

Right after Mickelson flagged his approach shot on No. 12, leader Ernie Els poured in an eagle putt (his second of the day) up ahead on No. 13 to open up a three-shot lead. The roar from the gallery was heard by Mickelson back on the 12 green, and he knew he needed to make something happen to make pace. He did just that a few minutes later with a birdie putt to get to 5-under and within two of Els’ lead.

4. Phil still watches swings from this tournament

You often hear of golfers watching old swings of themselves to get back into good habits, and Mickelson said he does just that from this final round. Specifically, his swings from the tee on Nos. 14 and 17 are ones he looks back to still to this day. He calls the swing his “stock cut” swing, and it helped him find the fairway on both of those holes, leading to a pivotal birdie on the former.

5. The 16th hole was monumental

Not only did Mickelson’s birdie on No. 16 tie him for the lead with two holes to play, but it also gave him some added juice coming down the stretch. When the ball dropped in the hole, the roars could be heard (and felt) all over the course.

“I could feel the ground vibrate. It was incredible,” Mickelson said. “Because you’re in a low point, you feel the roar unlike anywhere else on the golf course.”

6. The feelings on 18 are indescribable

It’s been said before, but the feelings of winning the Masters for the first time are hard to put into words. That’s exactly how Mickelson felt as he reflected on his maiden victory at Augusta National.

“It feels like all of those dreams you had as a kid are coming true in that moment,” Mickelson said. “It’s hard to explain how it feels.”

He went on to comment that he felt the presence of his late grandfather with him as he watched that final putt drop.

“There’s no greater feeling as a professional golfer,” Mickelson said.

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