Q. When you were walking down 18, you looked like you almost thought you were going to win; was that true or you is that just your normal smile?
MICKELSON: I was very confident today that good things would happen.
When I made that putt on 16, as I was walking up to the green, I really thought that it didn't seem overwhelming. I thought, I'll make this putt and I'll birdie one of the last two. (Laughter.)
I know, I know, but it just didn't seem that overwhelming at the time. And I ended up making that putt on 16. It was a nice putt to make.
But going into 18, with the pin being down left, I've seen a lot of guys birdie that last hole. When the ball comes down you have a nice 20 footer, and all I wanted to do was get that tee shot in play because it's a tough tee shot. I hit 3 wood, I hit a really good 3 wood in the middle of the fairway, and all I had was a little 8 iron from 162, I had a huge margin of error. Anything right of the pin would be fine, it would funnel down, and I was going to have a 20 footer. I ended up hitting about six feet right of the pin and had that 20 footer down the hill.
I think the fortunate thing for me was that Chris DiMarco's bunker shot rolled three inches behind my line, behind my ball. Because it was such a fast putt, I had a great look at his entire putt, every inch of break. I gave it about six inches of break and it just hung on the edge.
Q. When you picked up your little girl there before you went into the scorer's tent, I was thinking back to that moment on the 18th green at Pinehurst. Can you remember what Payne said to you and how prophetic it seems now?
MICKELSON: I thought of it, too. As I was holding my kids, I thought of it, too. It was similar. We both made a putt about the same length on the last hole to win by one. He was very prophetic about family. Yeah, I did think about that as I was holding Amanda.
Q. When Tom Kite won the Open at Pebble, he came clean afterwards about the relief he felt and feeling tormented and disgusted about that label, best player to not win a major.
MICKELSON: Not yet. I don't feel the relief yet, I really don't. I feel excited, ecstatic, a little disbelief. I was watching myself look like an idiot on the 18th green after I made the putt and didn't really care. It was just so much fun, so exciting.
Q. Sort of a follow up, so many times you have had that label, and we've asked you, as kindly as we could, can you win a major?[
MICKELSON: As kindly as you could? (Laughter.) I'm sorry, go ahead. I'll let you finish.
Q. As gently as we could. Did it ever get to you? Did it bother you? Did you think it was unfair that we would always ask you, can you win a major?
MICKELSON: When I was asked that, I think I was fairly consistent in my answer about how I really believe that I've got plenty of time; that if I continue to work on things, the right things, that I'll continue to get better.
I think the biggest thing for me was this off season, spending the number of hours and days with Rick Smith and Dave Pelz to give me the direction. I feel like I drove it this week, or this year, or whatever, unlike any time ever in my career.
When I stood up on tee boxes, I just knew the ball is going to go in the middle of the fairway. The 14th hole, just a nice high cut; the 17th hole, nice high cut and out there decent. And having a direction and game plan to work on my swing with Rick is just invaluable.
When I would have a shot like into 14, where it's 146 yards, the hours that I spent with Dave Pelz, getting the yardages down with the wedges, I knew that I had to take 7 yards off of the pitching wedge. It landed right where I wanted to, checked up and ended up a foot for a tap in. Those hours of work and having that proper direction, I ultimately knew or did not ever lack belief that I would ultimately win.
Q. You've always been a big fan favorite, but is this the most emotion you've heard coming from a gallery?
MICKELSON: Well, I've been fortunate to have some incredible experiences. I think that the '99 Ryder Cup is something that myself and my teammates will always remember. And this was such a special feeling because the outcome was what I was hoping for.
Bethpage in 2002 was an awesome experience. I can't wait to go back to Shinnecock this year. But to have the outcome be what I was hoping for just makes it so rewarding.
