http://askville.amazon.com/Phil-Mickelson-affair-rumors-started/AnswerViewer.do?requestId=67807751 From what I can tell, the rumors appear to be completely made up. I will start rooting for Mickelson even more now and in almost all cases unless he's up against another American that I like more (such as David Toms, Jeff Maggert, and possibly a couple of others since I love underdog stories).
He did file suit against a guy for starting the rumor. He's a good guy. In the past, I always depended on him to choke. I'm glad he is playing well now.
Funny thing is I did not like Mickelson at first in the mid 90s, I liked Couples and Love back then. I thought he was an uppity kid with the collar of his shirt turned up. But when Tiger came around and started dominating, even though I liked Tiger, I started pulling for Mickelson (after Couples and Love became non factors).
This. Phil seemed like a sort of a punk. It was hard not to love Tiger back then. He had it all (or so we thought). Turns out Tiger is the jerk and Phil is the good guy.
I agree with this and also islstl's comment above it. I've tried to give Tiger the benefit of the doubt a couple of times since his "issues" but now only root for him to be in contention so that I can enjoy watching him fall apart on Sunday. How do you guys feel about Rory as a person? Dustin Johnson? My dad likes Angel Cabrera simply because of his demeaner on the course (reminds him of some of his oil field friends from south Louisiana).
Not to mention that Phil Mickelson also has psoriatic arthritis and takes biologic shots for it that weaken his immune system. He's everything that is right about the sport and while he may have his own secrets (who among us doesn't?), he presents himself as a classy and likable guy on and off the golf course. That's good enough for me.
Yeah at first, Tiger had his mom and dad by his side, and his dad had health issues, so you pulled for him as "the son". Then he became his own adult and then his dad dies and all hell breaks loose. I have to believe that his dad dying had a lot to do with his trangressions (no longer having that moral compass to guide him). I am certain Tiger has to feel some strange sort of relief his dad was not alive to see what he had to go through.
I enjoy watching both play golf. Try to imagine this salty group when these guys are no longer playing well?
No doubt, they run the show. I looked up the money won for the 1996 Masters Champion (the Greg Norman meltdown giving it away to Nick Faldo), pre Tiger Woods and compared it to this year's champ. 1996 = 450 K 2013 = 1.440 Million 320 % increase. In fact, by 2000, the prize money for the champion had already eclipsed 1 million. It was nearly a 2 1/2 fold increase in just the 3 1/2 years of the Tiger Woods effect. My good friend sent a text to me as the last round of the British Open was starting, and he stated the world of golf needs Tiger to win (speaking strictly in economic terms). I suspect he was correct. I have to believe the 2014 US Open will be the most watched ever if Phil is in contention, especially if he is battling Tiger Woods for the championship on Sunday.
Anybody else feel that at this very moment the British Open victory simply wipes away all 6 close calls at the US Open in one fell swoop? I'd have to think even Phil is feeling that way at the moment. At lease until the completion of the next US Open.
