Mickelson's Open ends with a whimper
SOUTHPORT, England — Phil Mickelson arrived in Britain two weeks ago looking for redemption — or revenge — for the summer of 2007. A year ago he lost a playoff in the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond and, five days later, missed the cut in the Open Championship at Carnoustie.
His 2008 British sojourn has not treated him with any more kindness.
After finishing tied for 38th at the Scottish Open last weekend, Mickelson's British Open ended Sunday before the leaders had even made it to the practice putting green. He finished with a steady round of 71, which left him in an early tie for 30th place at 14 over, a dozen strokes behind the overnight leader Greg Norman. He moved up as others faltered and was tied for 19th by the end of the day.
"I've had an enjoyable couple of weeks," Mickelson said. "I didn't play to the level I would've liked. I thought I hit a lot of good shots, but I really struggled on the greens."
The greens weren't Mickelson's only issue this week. The world number two admitted that he fought vainly against the tough weather conditions that battered Royal Birkdale. "Day in and day out it's as challenging a wind as I've played in for four days," he said. "The positive that I can take is that I probably hit it better in the wind than I ever have. I didn't capitalize on some of the shots that I hit."
This was Mickelson's 16th appearance in the British Open. He has finished in the top ten only once, placing third at Royal Troon in 2004.
Before leaving Birkdale, Mickelson said that he'll next play at the World Golf Championship event in Akron, Ohio, before going on to the PGA Championship at Oakland Hills in mid-August.
Posted by: ryan | Jul 23, 2008 10:49:22 AM
Jesus guys... Half of you worship Tiger's c*k relentlessly and the other half want to suck on Phil's ever diminishing man-boobs. Really, you all pretty much suck. To be the voice of reason: You should all realize nothing you post on some internet blog has ANY BEARING on who is or will be the best player out there. Neither Tiger nor Phil will read this and have some sort of epiphany, and go to the course a changed golfer. But, have a good time aggravating yourselves and each other. Please work on your spelling and grammar as well...I'm embarrassed for you.
Posted by: smitty | Jul 22, 2008 3:22:56 PM
Obviously some of you have not played any kind of competitive golf. Phil is second only to Tiger in active tour player wins catagory with over 30-some titles. Tiger being the best that ever lived to play the game I would think being second to him is nothing to be ashamed of. To say Phil is mediocre is completely wrong. Comment on a sport you might actualy know something about.
Posted by: Ed | Jul 22, 2008 1:38:11 AM
According to my research, in addition to his 3 Major wins, Phil has finished 2nd 5 times and 3rd 6 times at the Majors. In some of these cases, an inability to close has taken away from his victory total, but the numbers nonetheless suggest that Phil is in contention much more often than some of you give him credit for.
Posted by: Boone | Jul 21, 2008 7:25:52 PM
Mickelson should fire Peltz, and work on his driving and course management,don't marry it Phil,and the ones that should be stepping up while Tiger is healing, ain't stepping up, except to cry, Furyk excluded.
Posted by: Eric | Jul 21, 2008 3:10:35 PM
People... it's not just the major WINS, but the 2nds as well. When Phil doesn't win he isn't even close. Tiger is always close. I don't care how personable Phil is... I don't want to watch a "nice guy". I want to enjoy seeing a true champion. Phil is only marginally better than Lee Jansen in my opinion.
Posted by: Freakelson | Jul 21, 2008 1:53:45 PM
Mickelson -
Can't believe Pelz comments - Tiger got lucky at the US Open? Either Pelz is stating the obvious (every major winner has some luck) or he is thumbing his nose at Tiger. Why would he say that?
Posted by: Vinnie Boucher | Jul 21, 2008 1:44:11 PM
I think that Phil needs to spend more time practiceing deccision making and how to score instead of countless hours on the putting greens his flop shots. He needs to practice hitting fairways and greens of course but get real. Mr. B-cup needs to be more realistic about Jack Nicklaus type shots and play a safer more managed game. Only after a more sensible aproach will he ever be close to beating a one legged Tiger Woods.
Posted by: dgarts | Jul 21, 2008 1:41:15 PM
In my opinion, it is a Mickelson comment, in part, but it also applies to others, and I'm not alone in that opinion. You're entitled to yours, too, so post away.
Posted by: Mark | Jul 21, 2008 1:17:37 PM
This is not a Mickelson comment, but since many of you brought Tiger into this, you've already demonstrated the point I'm about to make.
Every day during the Open, the commentators kept reminding us that Tiger wasn't there. Even when Padraig was finishing his last couple holes, we heard the "if Tiger were here" and "these conditions were right up his alley". Gee, wasn't Tiger in the field last year when Harrington won? Wasn't he at the last two Masters when Zach Johnson and Trevor Immelman won? Or the US Open when Cabrerra won? Nobody will deny that Tiger is by far the best in the world and won 2 of the past 6 majors but that also means he DIDN'T win 2/3rds of the others. It was an insult to Harrington to suggest otherwise.
People who don't like Tiger are really put off by everyone else pandering to him all the time.
Posted by: dgarts | Jul 21, 2008 11:51:57 AM
All these guys - Mickelson, Els, Garcia - were too nervous to go out and win. With Tiger out, the easy excuse of "Tiger was on his game, we did our best" was gone. The expectation was that these so-called contenders would grab a major in Tiger's absence, but none of them were even on the radar. There's Tiger, AND THEN there's all these other guys, who fade into the pack with everyone else. Harrington's no slouch having won it last year, and he's just as likely as the favourites, which goes to show they ain't so favourite after all.
Posted by: Look at some numbers | Jul 21, 2008 10:11:40 AM
Folks, while not 'everything you read on the internet is true.' I defy you to go to Wikipedia and type the words, "golfers with most PGA tour wins".
"Accumulating 20 wins is significant because it is one of the requirements for "lifetime membership" on the PGA Tour. This means that the golfer does not need to requalify for membership on the tour each year by finishing in the top 125 on the money list, or through an exemption for tournament victories. Many golfers struggle to do this through their forties, and go through a hiatus in their career before they qualify for the Champions Tour, but those with twenty wins avoid this problem.
Other than Vijay, there's only two other golfers in this category, so there is often a case for their being in the same sentance. There's no argument about Tiger's achievements, but on the PGA Tour victory list, Phil is ahead of many household names, some three and fourfold.
Posted by: Joe D | Jul 21, 2008 9:09:26 AM
Athletically Phil's mechanics are ok. His mental approach is what kills him. Phil chokes the other way around: he goes for the super shot in a pressure situation. He's not in control of his adrenaline. Where Tiger slows down, Phil speeds up and in this game its all about stepping back and hitting three wood off the 18th tee of the 72nd hole of a US Open protecting a two shot lead. Tiger used a 4-iron off the 18th at Pebble with what, a 12 shot lead? I mean what was Phil thinking.
So though he is the No.2 player in the world he's still a bunch of majors behind No.1. In all objectivity there is no comparison. As was said earlier, let's talk when Phil wins more than Hale Irwin's major record.
Posted by: mikeyD | Jul 21, 2008 8:17:09 AM
On the bright side, phils man boobs look a lot smaller.
Posted by: NCGOLFER | Jul 21, 2008 8:05:18 AM
To Rick:
The problem is not that Phil is not a very very good golfer and is seen as the No. 2 golfer in the world, the problem is that he is a very good golfer but he is not consistent. You must admit that after Tiger there are not many US player that step up. This is where Phil should be stepping up especially if your touted as the 2nd best player in the world. Jim Furyk is that player in my mind, he is tough, consistent and plays within his game. Love or hate Tiger, we all know that even if he would had a bad Saturday, he would have made a Sunday Charge. No one expected Phil to win after Saturday and that is the differnce.
Posted by: drew miller | Jul 20, 2008 8:49:39 PM
i love phil mickelson; you should too
Posted by: Rick | Jul 20, 2008 8:42:58 PM
All you Tiger dsuckers can go to hell. Maybe Eldrick is the number 1 player in golf by a significant margin but what the h is wrong with being the 2nd best player IN THE WORLD? He is far more than a decent or average player you idiots!
Posted by: UUG | Jul 20, 2008 7:28:26 PM
When all said and done, and when Mickelson's golf career is over. These are the things he won't accomplished..
- he will never be ranked number 1
- he will never win the Open Championship
- he will have difficulties winning another major till he fired Pelz.
Posted by: Mark | Jul 20, 2008 4:24:11 PM
I'm tired of Phil Mickelson being mentioned in the same breath as Tiger. He's in the company of Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, et al- very good, but not GREAT. He's miles from Tiger and Nicklaus, and in a group of pretty good players, but to hear the Phil fans, he's thisclose to challenging Tiger. Please. Let's get past Hale Iriwn on the career Major list and go from there.
Posted by: Mark | Jul 20, 2008 3:57:16 PM
It should also be noted that the group that played in the morning on Thursday faced weather that the afternoon group didn't. By the end of the first round, only one player in the top 24 was from the morning group. Most missed the cut including Vijay. Phil and Ernie were competitive the rest of the way but couldn't recover from the first day scores.
Posted by: Drake | Jul 20, 2008 2:53:43 PM
When will Phil's critics finally stop comparing him with Tiger? He's not as good as Tiger...and your point is? Yes, he has fumbled away past opportunities, but to say that a man with 3 Majors (including a brilliant effort to overtake Ernie Els in the 2004 Masters) is "just a decent player" and that he "never delivers when the stakes are high" is plainly incorrect.
Posted by: Knowledge Golf Fan | Jul 20, 2008 2:21:54 PM
When will the writers, pundits, sport radio junkies and casual fans finally realize that Mickelson is just a decent player and ONLY that? He does not perform well under any stress, makes horrible decisions down the stretch and never delivers when the stakes are high. No one can doubt that he has talent...he wouldn't be #2 otherwise. But there remains such a chasm between #2 and #1 in terms of raw ability, mental tenacity, desire and the accountability to get it done when the spotlight is on that Mickelson should be ashamed. That's the way it has been, is and always will be! Tiger, get well soon...
Posted by: Tony | Jul 20, 2008 2:21:05 PM
Phil is very personable and always manages to "say the right things" when he is interviewed -- he takes the high road and maturely accepts responsbility for his shortcomings...his erratic play however is why he isn't and may never be the number one player in the world...
Posted by: muktech | Jul 20, 2008 2:06:01 PM
POOR CHOKE CHOKE MEISTER PHIL MICKELSON!!