Fifty years old and up to his knees in South Carolina rough behind the 17th green, Phil Mickelson had a three-stroke lead and an improbable sixth major championship in his grasp.
All he needed to do was hit it safe and clean — something Mickelson has, at times, done both as well, and as poorly, as any golfer ever.
Visions of blown leads, by Mickelson and so many others who play this cruel game, flashed everywhere. He couldn't screw up this one, could he? Of course he could. This is Phil. And this is golf.