Phil Mickelson channels his inner weekend hacker (video)

Phil Mickelson is a three-time Masters champion, but Augusta National has gotten in his way this year.

After a solid 70 on Thursday, Phil Mickelson narrowly made the cut at The Masters with a 79 on Friday. The three-time green jacket and five-time major winner would need to make a big move on “moving day,” Saturday, while starting his round in the morning in less than ideal conditions.

Things were off from the start for Mickelson during his third round, with his tee shot on the par-4 first hole leaving him with only a clear view of the back of a tree.

Hitting the ball off pine straw is unpredictable, to say the least. Even a punch out back to anything resembling an ideal position in the fairway can be difficult, but that’s what Mickelson was left to do. At least it was playable, right?

Truly, Mickelson may have instantly wished he missed the cut.

Not only did “Lefty” whiff on his first attempt, but he appeared to bonk his head as he couldn’t quite keep his 6-foot-3 inch frame under the branch above while making the ill-fated swing. Talk about adding injury to insult.

Mickelson wound up with a triple-bogey on No.1, then he bogeyed the par-5 second hole. He would go birdie-birdie to finish his outward nine, and end it with a 37, before matching that score on his inward nine with two bogies and a birdie. His three-round total of 223 (+7) leaves Mickelson with one of the first tee times for Sunday’s final round, and 21 shots behind sole leader Patrick Reed.

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Casual golfers have all been there as Mickelson was after his tee shot on No. 1 Saturday, including the complete whiff on his first swing from behind the tree. The head bump was just a comic bonus, if only because he didn’t seem to be injured by it.