Upon Further Review: ‘Lefty’ loses his loser label
Phil Mickelson’s run on the back nine at Augusta Sunday should be more memorable than his win, but it probable won’t.
The man who has had a monkey on his back for the last 10 years gave the crowd something to cheer about when he birdied five of the last seven holes to win the Masters by one stroke over Ernie Els.
Mickelson has won on the PGA Tour 22 times, and by many has been seen just as an average player because he has never won a major tournament.
I have never understood why so many people have put such a label on one person at such a young age.
Mickelson, who will turn 34 in a few months, is approaching the prime of his career. But he has had to endure such a verbal attack by fans — and even other golfers — because he had no majors on his r?sum?.
Most of the pressure was put on him because of the success of Tiger Woods and several other players who picked up a major win before they turned 30. But if you take a look back at some of the great players of the game, you’ll find some very interesting facts.
— Mark O’Meara was 0-56 in majors before he won the ’98 Masters and the British Open that same year at the age of 41.
— One of my favorite players, Tom Kite, was 42 before he won the U.S. Open in ’92 after 67 tries at a major.
Yes, maybe the standards are a little higher these days just because of the wealth of young talent out on the tour. But some of the best golfers in the world don’t reach their prime until their mid-30’s or even early 40’s.
With a major finally under his belt and the pressure off his back, I believe there will be several more major championships awaiting Mickelson. He has one of the best swings in golf and is certainly one of the best players to walk the grounds of Augusta. And now the Green Jacket will always hang in his closet.
• Speaking of Tiger, Woods is doing something this week that most of us wish we could experience. He’s going to join the Army — so to speak.
Woods is going to Fort Bragg in North Carolina to experience the training “Special Forces” go through. Actually, Woods wants to connect with his father and the experiences he had as a Green Beret during the Vietnam era.
Now I understand where he’s coming from. I would give anything to do the same thing and experience the training by father had in the Navy during World War II. But I don’t make $90 million a year, and I wouldn’t be risking a career-ending injury.
Now I’m sure Woods will not be drilled every day, and won’t be expected to learn how to kill some one with his bare hands.
But what happens if he falls or somehow injures himself, and he’s not able to return to the links? He could break his wrist and never be able to play the game like he has in the past.
Just a little food for thought. Woods is in great shape and the only way he won’t return with his “A” game will be if they drop him off in a swamp and he can’t find his way back.