sport golf mastersaugusta 8430843 ----- # The Masters 2011: Phil Mickelson determined to ensure his back goes the full distance in Augusta ## Phil Mickelson stirred a flutter of anxiety among his fans at Augusta National on Tuesday when he disclosed that, in place of a day's practice, he had been to see a back specialist. ![PHIL MICKELSON][1] Long ambition: Phil Mickelson has been gearing up the the long fairways of Augusta for some time Photo: GETTY IMAGES [![Oliver Brown][2]][3] By [Oliver Brown][4] 9:15PM BST 05 Apr 2011 [Follow Oliver Brown on Twitter][5] [Comments][6] Mercifully for the legions who have come to cheer his challenge for a fourth green jacket, the defending champion was not reporting an injury concern. Instead, the visit was designed to help him unlock some extra power off the tee. Mickelson, who was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis last summer, explained: "This week is the one where I swing the absolute hardest. I've been working out for it. I saw a back specialist last night just to make sure that my back hangs in there. "It feels terrific, but I've been working on it for some time to make sure it's strong enough to withstand the type of rotational speed that I'm going to be trying to apply this week. I believe it's a big advantage if you can move it out there." Twenty hours before the tournament starts, Mickelson had yet to play a practice round at Augusta but he plans to remedy that problem today. His preparations had been disrupted by the fierce thunderstorm that swept across Georgia on Tuesday, softening the course and uprooting a tree on the fabled Magnolia Drive. On Augusta's 7,400-plus yard layout, the 40 year-old is so preoccupied with distance that he is carrying two drivers in his bag this week. Auspiciously, this is the same tactic he used in winning his second** [Masters][7]** title in 2006. ## Related Articles * [Europe's golden generation][8] 06 Apr 2011 * [Butch Harmon's epic journey][9] 06 Apr 2011 * [Poulter writes off Woods][10] 05 Apr 2011 * [McDowell out with Woods][11] 05 Apr 2011 * [Westwood can win at Augusta][12] 06 Apr 2011 * [Poulter's memorable moments][13] 05 Apr 2011 Mickelson's eye for detail is painstaking: the second driver would, he argued, enable him to carry the ­bunkers at the first, second and eighth. It has a shaft an inch longer than the first and capable of propelling the ball 15-20 yards further. In a touching gesture, he applied similar thought to his champion's dinner last night, introducing a Spanish theme in honour of the ailing Seve Ballesteros. The Spanish legend's fight against a brain tumour had, Mickelson stressed, reminded him of the pain his wife Amy had endured in battling breast cancer. "All of the past champions are thinking about Seve," Mickelson said. "And I know that when Amy and I went through the most difficult time of treatment, the players did a lot to let us know they were thinking about us. It gave us an emotional boost. "Honouring Seve is easy and no big deal, but I just want him to know that we all wish he was here. At 17, he was the guy I wanted to play with. I got into my first PGA Tour event, the San Diego Open, and was able to have a practice round with him. He was the classiest gentleman to me." [X][14] Share & bookmark Delicious Facebook Google Messenger Reddit Twitter Digg Fark LinkedIn Google Buzz StumbleUpon Y! Buzz [What are these?][15] * Share: [Share][14] [ ][16] [ ][17] [Tweet][18] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/golf/mastersaugusta/8430843/The-Masters-2011 -Phil-Mickelson-determined-to-ensure-his-back-goes-the-full-distance-in- Augusta.html Telegraph ## [The Masters][7] * ### [Sport »][19] * ### [Golf »][20] * ### [Oliver Brown »][3] In sport [![The Masters 2011: after the choke][21] ][22] ### [After the choke][22] [![][23] ][24] ### [The Masters: final round][24] [![The Masters 2011: Rory McIlroy is a carefree dreamer with the golf world at his feet][25] ][26] ### [Collapse worse than Norman's][26] [![][27]][28] ### [Montgomerie's course guide][28] [X][14] Share & bookmark Delicious Facebook Google Messenger Reddit Twitter Digg Fark LinkedIn Google Buzz StumbleUpon Y! 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