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Mickelson hints at major changes

Phil Mickelson could be set to change things up in the future © Getty Images

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After finishing the final round of his 2013 PGA Tour season opener on Sunday, Phil Mickelson suggested there were big off-the-course changes coming for the four-time major winner.

When asked if he thought the past few months were an unsettling time in regards to the political situation in the United States, Mickelson was a bit cryptic in his answer.

"Well, it's been an interesting off-season," Mickelson said after finishing tied for 37th at the Humana Challenge in La Quinta, California. "And I'm going to have to make some drastic changes. I'm not going to jump the gun and do it right away, but I will be making some drastic changes."

When pressed about what those changes might be, he deferred to next week, when he expects to be talking to the media prior to playing in the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines. But he did add that his situation might, in part, have to do with his tax situation.

"There are going to be some drastic changes for me because I happen to be in that zone that has been targeted both federally and by the state and, you know, it doesn't work for me right now," Mickelson said. "So I'm going to have to make some changes."

Mickelson did get more specific about his own financial situation, though.

"But if you add up ... all the federal and you look at the disability and the unemployment and the Social Security and the state, my tax rate's 62, 63 per cent," he said. "So I've got to make some decisions on what I'm going to do."

Mickelson's failure to challenge deep into the tournament at La Quinta saw him drop out of the world's top 20, while Justin Rose is up to No. 4 following his near miss in Abu Dhabi.

World rankings: 1. Rory McIlroy (NIR), 2. Tiger Woods (USA), 3. Luke Donald (ENG), 4. Justin Rose (ENG), 5. Louis Oosthuizen (RSA), 6. Adam Scott (AUS), 7. Lee Westwood (ENG), 8. Brandt Snedeker (USA), 9. Bubba Watson (USA), 10. Steve Stricker (USA), 11. Jason Dufner (USA), 12. Keegan Bradley (USA), 13. Ian Poulter (ENG), 14. Dustin Johnson (USA), 15. Webb Simpson (USA), 16. Charl Schwartzel (RSA), 17. Graeme McDowell (NIR), 18. Peter Hanson (SWE). 19. Sergio Garcia (ESP), 20. Matt Kuchar (USA)

This article first appeared on ESPN.com

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