Masters Champion Comes to Treetops Resort
When Phil Mickelson arrives at Treetops Resort on Monday, June 28, for the start of the 2004 Par-3 Shootout, it won’t be anything new. Mickelson, a gallery favorite, will be among the Shootout foursome at Treetops Resort for the sixth straight year.
This time though, Phil Mickelson will arrive on the first tee as the reigning Masters champion. Phil captured the Masters in dramatic fashion last Sunday as he held off a charging Ernie Els to capture his first major title and finally get the monkey off his back.
In what was highly regarded as the most exciting Masters tournament since Jack Nicklaus won in 1986. Ernie Els was in position to take the tournament from Phil, with two eagles on 8 and 13. Instead of reliving ghosts of Masters pasts on the back nine, Phil played with poise, precision, and confidence shooting a final round score of 69, which included a 31 on the back nine and birdies at 12, 13, 14, 16, and 18 to win. Phil became only the fourth player in Masters Tournament history to win the title with a putt on the final hole to win his first major championship. The victory capped a nine-tournament stretch this year in which the 33-year-old has two victories, a pair of third-place finishes and eight top-tens.
“Phil’s playing with a greater level of confidence and control than I’ve ever seen in him before, said Scott Head, director of golf at Treetops. “Technically, he’s much more on top of the ball. He’s striking the ball on the plane, not beneath the plane, and it’s a hard cut.”
“He has never won the par 3 tournament before, so it will be exciting to see him play and maybe get this monkey off his back”, continued Head. “His precision short game sets up perfectly for Threetops-It will be exciting to watch”
Since Phils win last Sunday, the Treetops Resort Web site has sustained hundreds of hits from fans seeking ticket information for the Tylenol 2004 Par-3 Shootout. The 2004 field features the same foursome as last year: Fuzzy Zoeller and Lee Trevino of the Champions Tour, along with Fred Couples and Mickelson of the PGA Tour. The Shootout is scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, June 28-29, at the famous Threetops Course.
Tickets for the popular event, which are limited to 1,500 per day, are expected to sell out again. Tickets are $50 for two days or $35 for each day, They may be purchased online at www.treetops.com or by calling (989) 732-6711, ext. 2499.
