Phil Mickelson heads into the next phase of his career with a new caddie on a course marking its comeback from devastating floods in West Virginia.
Mickelson will have brother Tim Mickelson on his bag starting Thursday at the Greenbrier Classic in his first tournament since parting ways with his caddie of 25 years, Jim "Bones" Mackay.
Tim Mickelson, the former Arizona State coach who is the agent for former Sun Devils star Jon Rahm, will be his older brother's caddie for the rest of the year.
Phil Mickelson said Wednesday the new arrangement brings a comfort level that could help his game.
"Maybe he gets me a little bit more relaxed and takes a little bit of pressure off me and maybe I'll play my best that way," Phil Mickelson said. "But there's no replacing Bones."
The tournament was cancelled last year after torrential downpours triggered flooding that killed 23 people statewide, including 15 in Greenbrier County, and caused extensive damage to The Greenbrier resort.
The bodies of three flood victims who lived in White Sulphur Springs were found on resort property. Trash, tyres, vehicles, appliances and uprooted trees were everywhere on the Old White TPC.
Sand was washed away from bunkers, leaving behind exposed drainage pipes. Near the 14th green, the flood surpassed a high-water mark set in 1915 by six feet.
Greens and fairways were reseeded and resodded late last summer. Many greens got new contours and bunkers were moved.
Mickelson is trying to break a four-year winless streak and get that elusive 43rd PGA Tour win. He missed the cut in his three previous Greenbrier Classic appearances.
"Of course I feel the pressure," said Mickelson, 47. "I don't feel old at all but I understand the math.
"I know I'm going to win again. I just don't know when exactly. I enjoy the challenge of trying to play against these great young players."
The tournament has seen close finishes in every year since its 2010 debut and has been decided three times in playoffs.
Australia's Stuart Appleby shot 59 on Sunday to win the inaugural tournament by one stroke in 2010.
The leading four players not already exempt from the top 12 finishers will earn spots in the British Open.
