I think it says something when Johnny Miller, perhaps the world's biggest Tiger Woods fan, thinks Phil Mickelson is the favorite heading into the U.S. Open two weeks from now. (Admittedly, these comments were made before Lefty pulled out of the Memorial this morning with a wrist injury, but assuming it's only a minor setback, Miller's point still stands). But it gets better:
"If he drives like he did at the Players, Phil is the guy to beat. He's the clear favorite. [Butch] Harmon and Mickelson and [Dave] Pelz, that's a tough team to beat. Right now, Phil could be the best player in the world. "Tiger and Phil have more talent than anyone, but if Tiger wasn't around, everybody would be bowing down to Phil."Wow. It's kinda hard to refute that claim -- I guess you can make the case that whoever won the previous full-field event is the best player in the world right now -- but it sounds like Miller is thinking a bit more long-term than last week. A couple of thoughts:
First, is anybody else surprised at Mickelson's turnaround? He started working with Butch Harmon earlier this spring and he won The Players a few weeks ago. Usually, tweaking your swing takes time. I guess somebody forgot to tell Phil. Second, in my mind, Johnny Miller is the best golf analyst on the teevees. And he also loves Tiger. For him to give Mickelson the edge says a lot. Not only about Philbert's game, but also Miller's perception of Philbert's game relative to Tiger's.
Of course, none of this matters if Mickelson's wrist injury is serious. By the way, I wonder if the media still think Phil is suffering from his 2006 U.S. Open collapse. I'm guessing no, though don't expect to hear much about it.
(Photo credit: Getty Images)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-01-2007 @ 11:05AM
Carl said...
yeah right Phil is better. If I am not mistaken one tournament does not define a golfer. Like all other sports the best is always determined by a full body of work not one tournament. Keep in mind LaBradford Smith once scored 38 against Michael Jordan or that Timmie Smith has the record for rushing yards in the Super Bowl. Talent is only part of the equation of greatness just ask Tracy McGrady.
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5-31-2007 @ 6:45PM
Mark said...
After watching Woods this afternoon, when will he start playing like the world's #1, sure doesn't play
like it anymore, O forgot he's got the millions, so what's another golf tourney.. He is so beatable right now it's pathetic. prove me wrong Mr. Woods, love to see it happen.....
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5-31-2007 @ 7:05PM
George Mitchell said...
Nike and PGA underwriters decide who wins and who loses.
Prize money and pride are irrelevant.
NBC Quiz Show decided that Charles Van Doren solfd more Geritol than did Herbert Stempel.
Nike knows sneaker sales. LIVE WRONG!
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5-31-2007 @ 10:16PM
Eric said...
I don't know what golf tournaments you watch but Johnny Miller is most certainly not the best analyst out there. How can you say that with people like Nick Faldo and David Fehrety out there. Phil won one tournament. Tiger has won 9 of his last 12? Ok, yea, Phil is better. Right. Tiger trumps Phil even playing with one hand.
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6-01-2007 @ 11:55AM
David Beaubien said...
Tiger is 9 wins out of 12 tournaments he has entered this year. Who has a comparable record to match his greatness. Those of you who believe Phil is better than Tiger today must be dreaming for someone to challenge Tigers position. This year the tour has seen many new players emerge as great players on a given week, or weekend. Lets compliment them for the achievements, but lets wait to see how consistent they play for a year or two before we crown them the new competition for Tiger.
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6-01-2007 @ 6:45PM
jim owen said...
Even though he made them in the last tournament, Phil misses too many short putts. He probably is Tiger's closest compeitor, but he's not even close.
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6-02-2007 @ 5:04PM
Sandy said...
You must be kidding. Johnny Miller is NOT a Tiger Woods fan. Johnny Miller is a big Johnny Miller fan, and his favorite word is "choke." His reporting always focuses on the negative, and he gets carried away with his expertise. His claim that he was using ESP to tell Mickelson NOT to use the driver in the Open when Phil did and fell apart, is laughable.
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6-03-2007 @ 4:56AM
sermon said...
Tiger Woods is the best golfer in the world. Tiger Woods is better than Phil Mickelson.
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6-03-2007 @ 6:24AM
shan said...
i watch alot of tourneys,and am a huge phil fan,but i feel that tiger is one of the best,if not the best ever to play
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6-03-2007 @ 9:06PM
Tom said...
Johnny Miller has never been too timid to say what he thinks, or say what he says when he doesn't think. I personally don't think Tiger is hitting on all cylinders lately. He seems to be struggling with more than one part of his game. I hope he can get it all together before the U.S. Open. He will have to bring his best to win at Oakmont.
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6-05-2007 @ 10:01AM
Lefty Fan said...
Eric,check your stats before making the putting comment. Phil is ranked number one in putting this year. Plus, I can understand a lot of the above comments, particularly from the devout Tiger fans...but, I'm sick and tired of watching Tiger highlights and full round recaps, when the guy is 4 to 10 strokes out of the lead. Come on!
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6-05-2007 @ 10:21AM
Pat Sculli said...
Tiger is Tiger,Look at History see what he has done thus far, and HISTORY will repeat.Phil is a good player sometimes a flash in the pan Tiger is the man you have to beat.
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6-10-2007 @ 11:36PM
gc said...
Tiger is in his early 30s and has 12 majors. You can add Phil (so called better than Tiger), Vijay and others and they would NOT even come close to Tiger's. So, somebody must be daydreaming to conclude that Phil is better than TIger woods.
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6-13-2007 @ 3:09PM
Rebecca said...
Slightly off the subject but related to Johnny Miller:
What did Johnny Miller say to get yanked from announcing at the Master's? Was it on air? And was he really yanked right during the broadcast? Thx :)
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6-15-2007 @ 12:21AM
Mark Peters said...
Someone tell Johnny that Phil's black wrap for his wrist is made from foam rubber. I used one when my wrist was injured. It causes your covered wrist to sweat, even in cold temps. I'm sure that's why Phil takes it off between shots. After thur. round I'm sure Phil will be a lot more confident with the wrist and will not continue letting go with the left hand.Friday I see Phil shooting 1 or 2 under.
Mark, Santa Fe
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6-16-2007 @ 7:37AM
allan gregory said...
Anybody know if it's a record at Oakmont? The fact that no American broke par in the first two days of a US Open? I think it must be. Pathetic when more than 70% of the field are from the States.
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6-17-2007 @ 4:42PM
Julie Dan said...
Miller is not a Woods fan, and is not a fair announcer.......I am sick of his biased remarks and have resorted to muting the sound when he is talking......I would like to say shame on NBC for feeding his ego..............by remewing his contract......He isn't now or ever was a Tiger....that is why he is always putting him down.............Shame on him
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7-13-2007 @ 9:40AM
Jeff said...
Phil has more true golf fans than tiger because he never tried to get away with all the things tiger has. He has gotten better as he has got older but let's not forget the Ryder Cup flap with omeara, in more than one way. He slams more clubs and cusses more than all the guys combined. My brother in law who had never played golf but went to watch him with his brother and be tiger fans watched him walk through a crowd of autograph seekers after his round. What happened next made him go from bandwagon fan to booing him. He said they watched as he would sign something instead of handing it back he literally flipped it over his head. These were 2 potential fans that told me this. Class act isn't he ? No denying his greatness, but he'll end up like a Bonds eventually if he doesn't take a cue from the true class of the tour.
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