The Masters Golf 2011 - Phil Mickelson Vs Lee Westwood

Will The Masters Golf 2011 be a repeat of Masters 2010 when Lee Westwood led on the 2nd and 3rd round only to lose to Phil Mickelson in the final round? Both Westwood and Mickelson have been tuning up their games so their game will be in peak form at The Masters 2011.

Westwood and Mickelson both began golf at an early age

Lee Westwood's golf career had its beginning when he started playing golf at age 13 in his home county of Nottinghamshire, England. He won the British Youth Championship in 1993 and turned pro. With 18 European Tour titles, Lee has made his mark in the European golf world. By October 2010 he reached the pinnacle of #1 in the World Golf Ranking. (He as since dropped to #2.)

Phil Mickelson's golf game began at a very early age when his Dad encouraged his interest in golf. His Dad gave Phil a small golf club when he was just a toddler. By the time he was just three years old, he had shot a 144 on a short par-3 golf course near his home in California. His natural ability and interest in golf led to a stellar golfing career peaking when he won The Masters in 2010.

Comparing Westwood and Mickelson

Lee Westwood is 6 feet tall, 196 pounds; Phil Mickelson is 6 feet 3 inches, 200 pounds. Lee is working hard to improve his golf fitness. Says Westwood: "I decided to get fitter because the game of golf has changed. I realized I needed to be bigger and stronger." Lee began working with Dr. Stephen J. McGregor of Sport Science Solutions Limited in 2006 on aerobics, strength, diet and biomechanics.

Phil Mickelson realized that excellent younger players were coming on tour, and that he had to really work on golf fitness to stay competitive. Working with the help of trainer Sean Cochran, Mickelson focused on increasing his flexibility and power, losing some weight, eating five smaller meals a day, and aerobic training. He has now become a vegetarian as he works through his controlled psoriatic arthritis condition.

In sum, both Westwood and Mickelson are close to the same weight but Mickelson's a bit taller. Lee is right-handed; Phil left-handed. Some say that lefties may have a natural advantage in golf. Both have been working on physical conditioning, both have modified their diets to improve golf fitness, both have been working to reach peak form at The Masters 2011. Phil, the acknowledged master of the short game, may have an advantage there. Lee has a become a very consistent player, and his competitive desire to avenge his loss at The Masters last year may give him a boost.

Also remember that Tiger Woods and 97 other great golf masters are also hoping to end up on top of the leader board. The betting money when this article was written is on Tiger to win, Phil to place second, and Lee third. We'll find out soon.

Let The Masters Golf 2011 begin! F

For The Masters TV Schedule and tips on how to learn from The Masters, go to The Masters Golf 2011.