Did not think I would ever type or utter those words. My favorite golfer. Arguably one of the best Sundays at a major in history. Thank goodness he didn't suffer an excruciating defeat at consecutive majors.
I would say going 4 under in the final 6 holes on Sunday is the best close at a major in the history of golf, given the conditions and the scoring averaged at least +1 over the last 6 holes in the entire tournament this week. And he got robbed of a great birdie opportunity at 16 as well, having to scramble for par instead. Ball striking the likes you rarely see under that much pressure. Holes 13-18 in terms of yardage par 3 13 = 190 par 4 14 = 475 par 4 15 = 448 par 3 16 = 186 par 5 17 = 575 par 4 18 = 470 Just checked the stats, the average scoring over the last 6 holes was +1.762 for the entire ield. Phil was -4 on Sunday, when it mattered most.
Mickelson is a great golfer and great for the sport, been one of my favorites for a long time. Glad to see he's seeing success at the level he is. Much deserved win and couldn't happen to a better guy.
Agreed TTG. As great a golfer as he has been, he is an even better person and a tremendous ambassador for the game. As indicative here: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/golf-...mickelson-makes-little-boy-day-144119857.html .
So the question is, who's finish more impressive? Phil with the -4 in the last 6 holes today or the 4 straight birdies on 15,16,17,18 by Schwartzel to win the Masters? Phil had a much tougher course to navigate for his feat, but Schwartzel needed every single birdie to win it. Interesting arguments can be made both ways.
It's too bad Phil never embraced links golf early on in his career. It's a shot makers type of golf and Phil is the ultimate shot maker of his generation along with Tiger. Yet he simply refused to conform to what it took to win in links golf. Taking driver out of the bag just wasn't something he was willing to do until just in recent years when he has become much more of a tactical golfer vs just the old grip it and rip it Phil. It showed a couple years ago when he almost won it (Darren Clarke, you bastard), and it certainly showed up this week. I look for Phil to win another one of these as he has finally learned to compete here. Winning at the Scottish Open last week as well shows he now needs to be considered one of the favorites at the British Open from here on out.
I was so fired up that he won. What a final round, and back nine! Phil's a class act, good guy, and appreciates the moment. Next years US Open is here in NC, at Pinehurst. I plan on getting to that one. Perhaps, Phil will finish his career GS.
Among a few things I collect is PGA Tour event golf balls. I have an autographed Mickelson ball, among a few others, but his is one of my prized possessions.
Pinehurst was where Phil almost won it, the first of six 2nd place finishes in his career at the US Open. That's the one the late great Payne Stewart won and held a dejected Phil Mickelson's face telling him he was going to be a father (which he was the very next day). Phil had an excruciating miss for birdie on 18 and then Payne dropped an 18 footer to avoid a playoff. I look for Phil to finalize the career slam next year.
