It was only 2 years ago when there was just about a changing of the guard in regards to the best golfer in the world. It wasn't any secret that Tiger was still the best but he had been going through a bit of mental anguish with the health of his dad. In the meantime, Phil Mickelson was quietly becoming a threat to Tiger's invincibility.
Phil Mickelson was one hole away from winning 3 straight majors and on his way to completing the Mickel-Slam, having won all four majors in a row. He had won the 2005 PGA Championship, the 2006 Masters, and needed just a par on the 72nd hole to win the US Open at Winged Foot. Lefty's double bogey on that hole set a chain of events that set golf back to the way it was in the early 2000's.
But what if Mickelson had simply made a par on the 72nd hole? Was he about to get into Tiger's head and was the landscape of golf about to change? These are the questions that will never be answered due to Mickelson's inconsistent play ever since that meltdown. He's managed a few tour victories as well as the 2007 TPC at Sawgrass but has yet to return to pose a serious threat to make a run at the majors.
Mickelson was forever known as the best player to never win a major. That all changed when he won the 2004 Masters. Once he shed the stigma of never winning a major he became a serious threat at every major and he certainly came full circle by the end of 2005. He had finally gotten over the hump and was also a serious threat to Tiger's stranglehold on golf.
That all changed on the 72nd hole at Winged Foot in 2006. Mickelson has been in a funk at the majors ever since. He's yet to post a top 10 in any major since that tournament. So the questions will forever be out there for as long as Mickelson goes winless in future majors. Did that hole change Mickelson? What would have happened if he wins the US Open? Does that challenge Tiger to work even harder? Does Mickelson gain the mental advantage over Tiger?
Well they're all moot points now because Tiger's not only regained his form since he missed the cut at Winged Foot, but is going forward full throttle. It's only gonna take that much more from Mickelson in order to get to that peak once again. Can he do it? This week might give us a hint as the greatest tournament in golf is upon us. The Masters.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
The Mickel-Slam: What Could Have Been??
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6 comments:
I'm Tired of reading Phil hasn't posted a top 10 in majors since Winged Foot!!! LAST YEAR HIS WRIST WAS INJURED FOR 3 OF THE 4 MAJORS. REMEMBER!!!!!!!!!
His wrist was an excuse. He even declared himself fit for the British and PGA Championship. Not to mention, he injured his wrist practicing for the 2007 US Open. That doesn't change the scenario for the 2006 British and 2006 PGA. We all root for Phil. He's a likeable guy and he took on Tiger at the Deutche Bank open in September. He needs to contend in the major's now that he's healthy. That being said, you gotta ask yourself, what could have been had he parred that 72nd hole.
Phil is a big pussy. I hope he falls into Rays Creek and inhales large amounts of water..
Yes, Phils wrist was injured but that sure doesnt excuse him from an entire years worth of shabby play along with some not so brilliant course management decisions (ala Winged Foot) It would be nice if he could blame his wrist for that! Here's a little stat to ponder......There is a greater seperation between Tiger and Phil (number 1 and number 2 in the world) than there is between Phil and the number 1,000 player in the world!!!!!!!!
Looks like God of thunder has a seriously valid point. Again, pretty much every one on this site is a Lefty fan so we're just letting the facts speak. Phil is an excitable golfer due to his course management, and yet it's been his undoing so many times. Also, that's the difference between Tiger and Phil. Tiger will not lose a major due to poor course management on the last hole.
More importantly, to prove God of thunders point, just go to the sidebar on this website and check out my previous post written on January 29, 2008. It's titled, "This is Insane". It further supports our facts.
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