In each of those high-profile tournaments, left-hander Mickelson overshadowed his more illustrious American rival Woods, and South African Els took careful notice.
"Phil is probably the man to beat now," former world number one Els told reporters at this week's Sony Open on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. "Even if you ask Tiger, I think Phil has got right to his level throughout his game. There is a new guy we got to chase.