After missing the cut at the PGA Championship for the first time since the mid-90s, Phil Mickelson realized he had a problem. He just wasn't sure if that problem was physical or mental. 

"It's a more not controlling my thoughts," Mickelson said at the time. "So if I have a short putt, it's not a technical issue, I'm just not seeing the ball go in and staying committed. I'm just losing focus on every shot. I have a week to work on it and see if I can get it dialed in.

"I don't feel like I did two years ago where I'm searching for my game or I'm trying to find it or trying to strike it well. I have great practice sessions. Drove it fine. Just not real focused when I'm out there."

It seemed like what somebody who was running out of gas on the season might say. Mickelson came into the Dell Technologies Championship this week having finished in the top 30 of just one event since the FedEx St. Jude Classic in June. He had as many missed cuts (2) as top 50 finishes.

But he was encouraged at TPC Boston because he thought he found something. Not in his game, mind you, but in his health.

"What I've been saying is that I feel I'm close, and yet I feel like my physical game has been where I want it," Mickelson said on Friday after shooting a 69 in the first round. "But I've had a difficult time with my mental focus and energy level. After the PGA, I went and addressed it and met with the doctor that helped me get through some of the arthritis conditions I had years ago.

"He seemed to have found something ... this is the best energy I've had throughout the round and the best focus; the first time I've been able to visualize. My short game has been very disappointing and I haven't been able to visualize the shot I've been trying to hit. And today, and for probably the last few days, I've been able to see the shot again. And so it was a good day."

Mickelson was asked what the doctor found.

"Oh, I don't want to get into my medical stuff."

Mickelson shot three more rounds in the 60s on the week and finished T6 with Pat Perez, Patrick Reed and Kevin Na. It was his best finish since the WGC-Dell Match Play in March and his best finish in any stroke play event this year.

"I guess the greatest example or the best example I can think of is when you're really tired. You've worked however long and you just go lie down, and you just can't get out of bed for a day or two," Mickelson said. "I have been in bed for days this year, I mean, multiple days, just with fatigue. Three or four days at a time, I can't get out of bed, and that's not normal. 

"I finally just kind of figured it out ... This is a great first start. It's really not that big a deal as far as there's no medication -- well, there is a little bit, but more natural stuff and change in diet. (My doctor) said it would take about a week to notice and certainly after a week, I noticed a difference and I felt a lot better. Hopefully this will continue an upward trend. It was a good start this week, and next week I'll get back and see how I feel after working out and playing and practicing and so forth."

There is a lot of innuendo veiled in these comments, but any guesses from our end was simply be speculation. The encouraging part of it is that Mickelson seems to be feeling better, and it is clearly affecting his on-course play. Hopefully that continues into the fall and on into 2018 when he starts his 26th season on the PGA Tour.