Opinion: Phil Mickelson says he needed to make changes and he'll be better for it

Thus, ahead of the 148th edition of the British Open, to be played over the massive links named Royal Portrush, Mickelson is 15 to 18 pounds lighter than he was 15 days ago.In a video posted Sunday on social media, Mickelson looked remarkably thinner as he explained he had made a “hard reset to change and try and make things better.”The approach included a six-day fast, a brief retreat and consumption of nothing but water and a special coffee blend for wellness.On Monday at Royal Portrush, where Mickelson had a long session on the practice ground and then joined up with Alex Noren and Matthew Baldwin on the 13th tee and played in, proved the video was not photoshopped. I fasted to heal,” Mickelson told me.BRITISH OPEN: Rounds 1 & 2 tee times | TV info | PhotosSPORTS FANS: Here are some of the best credit cards availableThe five-time major champion, who won the British Open at Muirfield in 2013 and is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, won his 44th PGA Tour title at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Since then, however, he’s missed the cut in four of his last six starts and posted just one top-20 finish, a tie for 18th at the Masters.So the man who has never feared change or the risky shot, who at 49 is still looking for that fountain of golf youth, took food out of his game plan.“Mechanically, my swing is right where I want it to be,” said Mickelson, who also added yoga to his daily routine and set off on many hikes to feed his desire to improve physically and mentally. PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland – British Amateur champion James Sugrue has set himself a modest target in this week’s British Open: make (…) PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland – The British Open is back at stunning Royal Portrush for the first time in more than half a century. PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — When Darren Clarke steps to the tee at Royal Portrush at 6:35 a.m. Thursday morning and gets the 148th Open (…) With an eagle and two birdies in Charles Howell III’s final five holes at the John Deere Classic on Sunday to finish tied for sixth, (…)Nelson Ledesma wins Korn Ferry Tour's TPC Colorado ChampionshipJuly 14, 20192019 LPGA schedule and resultsJuly 15, 2019Titleist U500, U510 utility irons deliver distance and forgivenessJuly 15, 2019Ping brings back the Eye2 as part of the Glide 3.0 wedge familyJuly 15, 2019British Open champion Francesco Molinari has one regret about tattoo he got when he was 18July 15, 2019Phil Mickelson says he lost 15 pounds with a six-day fast before British OpenJuly 15, 2019British Open: Tiger Woods tees off with Patrick Reed and Matt WallaceJuly 15, 2019