For all the bellyaching about the PGA Tour's drug-testing policy (and for the millionth time, I think it's ludicrous), I think there's a case to be made for having Phil Mickelson pee in a cup. Not so much because he's suspiciously dropped a few cup sizes in recent months (cutting out the gravy-only diet certainly helps, I'd think), but based on his seemingly insane comments following yesterday's implosion.
Despite bogeying three of the final four holes to turn a one-shot lead into a withering two-stroke defeat, Phil Mickelson forced a smile and repeatedly said how well he thought he played in his final-round 70 at the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational. ...Ah, yes, that elusive final piece of the puzzle: scoring. Or here's a thought: maybe Philbert's just a mental case who will never get out of his own way long enough to play like he should.
Asked if he could take any positives out of his late slide, Mickelson said, "I played great, I really played well. I played great today. I felt like I should have shot 63 or 64, had countless birdie opportunities from 6 to 15 feet and then I make three bogeys on the last four holes and turn a 64 into a 70. ... So I feel like I'm playing well, I just need to get that final piece of scoring down."
Look, it's one thing for Michelle Wie to be happy with an opening round 73 at the Reno-Tahoe glorified Nationwide event. It's something else entirely for a three-time major winner to declare he played great after gifting a tournament to a guy who, as Bacon might say, putts like he has no hands.
So my advice to the drug-testing gestapo: leave Mrs. Doubtfire alone and find out what Lefty's hopped up on.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-04-2008 @ 5:34PM
Robin said...
With Tiger out of the picture, why is it that the so called number 2 golfer can't get a win. Everyone else is so far behind Tiger that there shouldn't be a ranking. So I don't know why so many people put their hope in Phil Mickerlson, he's always a let down.
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8-04-2008 @ 10:51PM
bigflyer said...
Lefty is not the same player after the 72nd hole at Winged Foot 2006.
His mental approach to pro golf is not nearly as good as Tiger's. The self delusion about yesterday's round is further proof.
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8-05-2008 @ 10:16AM
mk said...
phil always has a excuse on why he lost he will never change. were going to have to get used to it .he propable will let us down in the ryder cup also
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8-05-2008 @ 1:42PM
Jesse Martinez said...
Tiger has rasied the bar so high that the rest of the players seem to be minor league players. If Tiger was not around then Phil would be #1. What does that say about all the rest of the players. VJ had a good run a few years ago but other then that no one else has made any kind of impact that Tiger has in his career. If Tiger had not been hurt he would have run the table. There is no one playing now that is playing great or even consistantly good. VJ was playing like he was bored to death. Phil was playing like Phil. You just knew that he was going to go down. You could see it in his face. It was like a glare saying, "I should be doing something else". Then he says that he played great. I am comparing him to John Daly but at least Big John doesn't lie about himself.
Jesse
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8-05-2008 @ 3:38PM
Dave said...
John Daly doesn't lie about himself? So I guess that's why he blames Butch for his problems.
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8-06-2008 @ 11:53AM
Jesse Martinez said...
Before Butch came into the picture John already had a history of personal problems. He told the press that he couldn't stop drinking or gambling. It effected his game so he hired Butch. Butch being of the old school and does deals only with players that he feels that he can help.
He's working with Phil and that has gotten nowhere. The point being if a player doesn't have the mind set or the talent to make changes to correct his game he drops them. How long will it be before Phil or Butch drop each other?
8-06-2008 @ 6:04AM
Callaway Golf said...
Phil is supposed to be world number 1 but he still cant win with Tiger out the picture, doesn't that say something?
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8-06-2008 @ 4:41PM
Dave said...
Regarding Butch, I have often wondered if he made Tiger better, or if Tiger made him better. It's hard to say. He and Phil have only been together for about a year. Personally, I think if Phil is looking to change, he should look long and hard at Mr Pelz. I'm not questioning his knowledge, but all you ever hear about Phil is that he is a "feel" player. It seems to be an odd fit with Pelz who is more of a technical/scientific person.
Regarding Daly - my only point is that while he may admit he drinks, he still maintains he's got it under control. He seems oblivious to the fact that it has destroyed his game to the point of making him a sponsor's exemption freakshow. I HUGE fan draw - but a freakshow non the less...
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