Phil Mickelson explaining his ‘off the cart path shot’ is the most Phil Mickelson explanation ever

Phil Mickelson is a polarizing athlete. A lot of fans love him, some can’t stand him, but no matter your love or hate for the guy it’s simply exciting to see a guy play the game of golf with absolutely no fear.

On Thursday at Doral, Mickelson hit his drive on the 17th hole an easy 450-yards (sure, he got some help from the cart path, but still) and was right of the green on the par-4 sitting on the path. Did he take a drop like most everyone does in that situation? No, of course not, and he still made a birdie.

Mickelson talked after his round about the shot, and I don’t even want to spoil it because it’s so good. From the moment the shot came up you can hear the excitement in the voice of Mickelson, letting the average golfer know that “you’d have to be an idiot to open the club face” and “the ball is going to come out five yards longer than normal.”

It’s an incredible moment of television and it really makes you appreciate Phil Mickelson as a professional golfer. A regular golfer would see this ball and immediately pick it up, drop it in the grass and hope to make bogey. Phil pops it off there to a few feet, rolls in the putt and goes about his business.

Mickelson ended the day with a round of 5-under 67, one shot back of the leaders.

Devil Ball Golf – Golf – Yahoo! Sports