Jim 'Bones' Mackay relives Mickelson's greatest shot, Masters pick

Phil Mickelson never shied away from attempting a heroic shot, but even by Lefty's standards, Jim "Bones" Mackay had his doubts that trying to hit between the trees on the 13th hole at Augusta National on Sunday at the 2010 Masters was the right idea. One slip and the ball could go away, sinking Mickelson's chance at winning a third green jacket.

Mackay relived that moment, which you can see on the Masters Vault, and the decisions that went into it in a recent interview with senior writer David Dusek. And, not to spoil Bones' great story, there wasn't a whole lot of thought that really went into it.

While he will not be working during the Masters this week as an on-course analyst or a caddie, no one knows the nuances of Augusta National better than Mackay. Even when the club doesn't talk about changes or announce adjustments to the course, he's noticed little tweaks here and there that make it more challenging.

"It can be so subtle," he said. "I mean, take the right edge of the 11th green. That used to be flat, if you will, and it's certainly fairway cut right of that green, but they they beveled it a little bit and there's a little bit of a runoff there now about 2 feet high. You wouldn't think that that's a big deal, but it makes putting from right of that green really, really difficult. It makes pitching the ball or bumping the ball incredibly hard. They just do amazing things like that."

Mackay sees Scottie Scheffler as the best player in the world today, but he doesn't have the world's No. 1 player as the favorite to win this week.

"Rory, of course, pulled out of the Bay Hill event because he was hurt and then went on to, you know, not have his greatest week when he played next at the Players. So, you know, my theory about that tournament and about those types of players is that it's so much easier to win a Masters after you've got one under your belt. You don't feel nearly as much pressure, in my opinion, as you do not having won one. So, I think because of that, I think Rory's gonna be a slight favorite heading into this year."

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Jim 'Bones' Mackay relives Phil Mickelson's greatest shot Masters