Mickelson whets Augusta Appetite
says he can't wait for next month's and he is not alone.
The first major of the year is always eagerly awaited but it is hard to recall a greater feeling of anticipation ahead of the annual Augusta date.
- his first in a WGC event and second triumph of the season - has elevated him once again to number two in the world rankings.
Lefty is within touching distance of at the head of the standings. Although Mickelson is quick to point out that this is due to Woods' prolonged absence from the game, it still adds to the excitement of the fledgling season.
Are we, at long last, going to see their rivalry flourish in the compelling way we've hoped for over the last decade? Because while they have been the top two personalities in the game for most of that period, the occasions when they have gone head-to-head for titles down the stretch have been few and far between.
When one has been in (usually Woods) the other has been out.
It could be argued the best illustration of their rivalry to date came when they were supposed to be helping each other, and did nothing of the sort
To see them paired together in the final round of majors with titles on the line would provide the sort of competition that elevates the professional game to a higher plain.
Especially with these two, who contrast in personality and style and share only in common the ability to put impressive numbers on scorecards.
Mickelson loves to gamble and the guy he loves to back more than any other is himself. Witness his decision to play right-handed his second shot from the bushes to the right of the 12th fairway in the final round at Doral.
No matter that tall palm trees stood in his way and the voice of sanity that is his caddie was counselling heavily in favour of a penalty drop instead.
"Let's make five the hard way," Bones could be heard saying.
"Let's make it an even harder way - and show the world that I can swing right-handed as well," Mickelson appeared to be thinking.
So, Lefty couldn't ignore his instincts to rise to the challenge of becoming "Righty" even though at the time his only realistic challenger, Nick Watney, was applying uncomfortable pressure.
And what a strike Mickelson fashioned swinging right-handed - shame about the palm tree that had so concerned the trusty Bones getting in the way.
This eventually led to a bogey six and Mickelson was fortunate that Watney also dropped a shot on the same hole.
It is unlikely you would see the pragmatic Woods adopting similar tactics in the same situation at the top of a leaderboard.
What has been most impressive about Mickelson in his victories at the CA Championship and last month at the has been the standard of his short game.
This is why he is so excited about Augusta where the ability to get the ball up and down is the single most valuable commodity.
But Woods also says he can't wait for the Masters. His game improved steadily with each round at Doral, although he is still some way from his best after the eight-month lay off that followed last June's knee surgery.
, but this is an established Woods tactic. Never admit to any kind of weakness.
Most eye-catching in his final round 68 at his first strokeplay event since winning last year's US Open was the delightful tee shot into the par three 15th. He'd been drawing the ball right to left for most of the round, but this was a wonderfully held off fade with laser accuracy that tells us he is not far away.
But no one should start to think that 2009 is just about Woods and Mickelson. There is an abundance of talent to be beaten.
who will be going for three majors in a row, is showing encouraging signs. At Doral he scored better than he played which suggests the Irishman is moving in the right direction.
Then there is Danny Lee (the Johnnie Walker Classic champion) and Ryo Ishikawa (the Japanese phenom) are two more who will arrive at Augusta still in their teenage years.
I loved McIlroy's recent response when he was asked if his Augusta aim is to be the best-placed teenager at the Masters.
"I'll be coming in there as probably one of the top 20 players in the world," McIlroy answered. "So you've got to think, if you play well enough, you've got a chance to win.
"And that's what my goal is to play well enough to have a chance of getting a green jacket."
It was as polite an answer as it was confident and brave and he was dead right to say it.
McIlroy takes his place in a world top 20 that has not looked as exciting in years. There are 11 different nationalities represented and the age range stretches from the 46-year- old Vijay Singh (No.6) to the 19-year-old McIlroy (No.17).
But with dropping to three it's once again golf's Old Firm at the top.
Mickelson's first objective now is to overcome the dehydration and sickness that struck in Miami but didn't prevent his Doral victory, while Woods will look to step up the rehab of his game at Bay Hill the week after next.
Yes there are important weeks to come but already eyes are firmly fixed on a picturesque corner of Georgia and the first major tournament of the year.
It's time to make sure those evenings of the second week of will not involve much more than watching golf.
NOTE: This page is no longer being updated, for Iain's latest articles visit 
Comment number 1.
At 16th Mar 2009, used2beprofi wrote:unfortunately, american tv did a terrible job covering mcilroy on sunday after he dropped a shot. too bad. they really dropped the ball there like they always do...
Complain about this comment (Comment number 1)
Comment number 2.
At 16th Mar 2009, kwiniaskagolfer wrote:Iain,
Wonder if either really wants a rivalry? Woods only plays certain courses that he knows he's almost odds on to win at, plus Majors and the TPC. Never anywhere else. And certainly not at those courses that might favour Mickelson, Garcia, Harrington etc.
And Phil is not really that much different; he cherry-picks his couple of wins a year and goes all out for the Masters and US Open. But, despite that, he's now won 12th most tournaments in PGA Tour history which, especially in the era of Woods, is just phenomenal.
As for "used2beprofi"'s nonsense about American TV's coverage; he obviously didn't watch it in America otherwise he'd've known that NBC covered McIlroy extensively, certainly more so than several who finished ahead of him.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 2)
Comment number 3.
At 16th Mar 2009, Tim in Marlow wrote:Iain,
Only last evening as I watched the final round at Doral, I asked myself the same question - how many times have Woods and Mickelson been paired together in the final two-ball on Sunday, with a title on the line? I'd be willing to bet that you could count the occasions on the fingers of one hand. And while Woods is quite clearly the best player ever to have swung a club, the true golf fan will always favour Mickelson's happy-go-lucky style.
For me, one of the most telling moments at Doral was when Lefty swung each foot in turn high up onto the collar of his golf bag to tighten his shoelaces. He's two and a half years younger than me, and I can only dream of that sort of flexibility - and the same would have been true for Phil a couple of years ago when he had (ahem) been indulging in one or two doughnuts too many. He's hardly Henrik Stenson even today, but the level of fitness he has achieved in the last couple of years makes him a more fearsome competitor than ever.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 3)
Comment number 4.
At 17th Mar 2009, cullybelvo05 wrote:"the true golf fan will always favour Mickelson's happy-go-lucky style."
I would have to disagree. I think Tiger's approach is the epitome of the modern sports professional, and one to which the "true golf fan" would always aspire over that of Mickelson. Sure, Phil is more entertaining from a point of view of personality on the course. A "true golf fan", however, does not watch the game to see players having fun, but to see how the best in the world do it and appreciate their talent. This is where the entertainment comes from. Tiger's way of going about his business is widely regarded throughout sport as one of the best in the world and he is often referred to by commentators/analysts from other sporting disciplines. I have never heard Phil's name mentioned in this context.
Mickelson has played well in recent weeks but he definitely missed an opportunity to overtake Woods as World Number 1 during his absence. Finishes like 73rd at the Deutsche Bank Championship and 55th at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am let him down. Granted, he had a few top 10s but was not consistent enough to take him where he wanted to be. It was his easiest chance and it's now gone. Woods is improving by the day.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 4)
Comment number 5.
At 17th Mar 2009, Tim in Marlow wrote:Cullybelvo - absolutely take your point and of course I admire Tiger enormously but it seems to me that given a choice between the two, fighting down the stretch for a major, most true fans would root for Phil. Of course it's debatable - that's half the fun! But we're talking Agassi vs Sampras, McEnroe vs Borg, Jimmy White vs Steve Davis, and heck - even Palmer vs Nicklaus here.
My personal favourite, and the player I always try to follow when I go to tournaments, is Ernie Els - for precisely the reason that Lefty scores over Tiger. Because while Tiger is genuinely a lovely guy, you just don't warm to him and feel his pain on the course like you do with Phil, Ernie or Sergio.
Anyway, may the debate continue - because sure as eggs are eggs, it has no finite conclusion! :-)
Complain about this comment (Comment number 5)
Comment number 6.
At 17th Mar 2009, chillidipper wrote:It would be good to see these two strike up a genuine rivalry but for two simple reasons I don't see it happening;
1) Tiger knows he's better than Phil and more importantly Phil knows that Tiger is better than he is. As kwini says, they don't cross each others paths often in regular tournament play, when they do it always seems to me that Phil only wins when Tiger doesn't really show. In simple terms Tiger seems to have Phil's number, just as he has Els'. (I can only think of the 2007 Deutsche Bank when Mickleson has come out on top against Woods - there may be more but one or two head to heads when it matters in roughly 10 years isn't the basis for an even competition.)
2) Phil makes bad decisions. It's easy to romanticise decisions like the one that Phil made to play right handed but the fact of the matter is that it was the wrong shot, it was a low percentage shot and he got very lucky that it didn't cost him more. Think of the things that were written about Van de Velde's caddy back in '99 when people were blaming him for the capitulation - why didn't Bones tell Mickleson to get his ego in check and get on with winning the tournament? If you are going to be that naive on the course you need someone to give you a proverbial slap in the face.
I like that quote from McIlroy, it shows the attitude that is needed to get to the top. It would be easy for him to go down the route of a 'mini-tournament' for the teenagers but as a top 20 player in the world he should be looking to be competitive and this is clearly how he see's it as well. I, personally, think The Masters will be a tournament too far for him at this stage (but would love to have that thrown back in my face by him) but at least it won't be because he's talked himself out of it.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 6)
Comment number 7.
At 17th Mar 2009, jamie norris wrote:Can't ever see Woods and mickelson having a rivalry that some people crave. Like chillidipper said, Woods knows hes is superior to Mickelson.
I don't think there is a top player in the game who has ever rivaled Woods in the way the audience want. Players like Dimarco, Mediate etc have to step up as when Woods is there or there-abouts Mickelson, Els, even Singh seem to wilt under the pressure. It will be interesting to see how McIlroy performs under that pressure.
haveronJones
Surely you are joking? Mickelson doesn't get anywhere near the attention that Tiger does on the golf course, to suggest that Mickelson would attract the support of true golf fans if he went 1 0n 1 with Tiger is crackers. The PGA must of been praying Woods came back sooner rather than later. Golf has been no where near as popular since the abscence of Woods.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 7)
Comment number 8.
At 17th Mar 2009, bendirs wrote:haveronjones - "you just don't warm to him and feel his pain on the course like you do with Phil, Ernie or Sergio". I'd wager that's because Tiger rarely feels any pain! (apart from at last year's US Open, of course)
Complain about this comment (Comment number 8)
Comment number 9.
At 17th Mar 2009, kwiniaskagolfer wrote:Jimboo20,
There are certain parts of the country where Mickelson is way more popular than Woods, New York metro being one and Southern Cal being another - even Tiger-centric NBC allowed that it was a Phil-crowd the first two rounds at Torrey Pines at the US Open.
Another potential match-up goes by the boards next week as Phil will skip Bay Hill, Tiger will skip Houston! Next stop: Augusta.
chilli, Iain, Remember one thing about Phil's right-handed shot: He IS right-handed, and he DID whack one right-handed over 150 yds at LA last year. (chilli: 5-star!)
Complain about this comment (Comment number 9)
Comment number 10.
At 17th Mar 2009, chillidipper wrote:kwini,
I had heard that he was right-handed but, by all accounts, his brief foray into the world of lower league baseball as a pitcher raised some serious questions about the validity of this claim. Unfortunately for Phil baseball doesn't come with a 'ladies tee'.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 10)
Comment number 11.
At 17th Mar 2009, kwiniaskagolfer wrote:chilli:
Well, he pitched batting practice right-handed at the Double A level offering $300.00 to anyone who homered off him. Which no-one did. And then they considered opening a roster spot for him at Toldeo for the AAA Mud Hens, but that endeavor fizzled, for a variety of reasons!
But AA "ball" is not a bad standard for a novice.
I saw Johnny Miller lacing 3-irons left-handed once, but that's another story.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 11)
Comment number 12.
At 17th Mar 2009, andythetoonfan wrote:i think theres one golfer that has the ability to challenge woods seriously and thats garcia and then maybe mcilroy
such a shame garcia bottles majors as often as he does.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 12)
Comment number 13.
At 18th Mar 2009, uberman21 wrote:Straws, grasping at......Carter, just the beginnings of talking up a big event the ´óÏó´«Ã½ actually covers methinx.
Mickelson hasn't stepped up with Tiger being out of the frame, Harrington did and I think Harrington has got the makings of someone who can partner Tiger on a Sunday in a big tournament and not wilt. Mickelson has the ability to do it but it hasn't been there yet so no reason to think it will be now.
With global golf developing as it is wouldn't be surprised if the next person to seriously challenge Tiger is from outside of the US. Would be nice if it were someone like Rory. Talent is clearly there but the issue of challenging Tiger is more mental than technical is it not? if it were all about talent Sergio would not be destined to succeed big Colin as the best player never to win a major.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 13)
Comment number 14.
At 20th Mar 2009, Dagnat wrote:As an American follower of golf, whose first visit to an international forum is happening as I type, I would like to remark on the difference between ´óÏó´«Ã½ coverage and that of US news sites.
In America, golf fans are clustering around the two kinds of Phil / Tiger reporting. Both kinds of articles are supporting a dichotomy of "Phil is Phony / Tiger is Real; or, "Phil is Now Challenging Tiger, at Long Last."
I am sorry to admit that US media are dedicated to reinforcing simplistic analysis of golf (and all sports) results & rankings. I would like to think that American golf fans will rebel against these. But as a hedge, I want to assure Euro readers that not all American golf fans are so oblivious to the nuances of golf history and of today's events. Well, I WANT to assure that, but I don't really have much faith.
Not that I think Euro golf reporting is blameless--just not so bad. American sports reporting caters to the least desirable traits in our athletes and fans, when it should be concerned with setting standards.
Dagnat (a tennis fan and player)
Complain about this comment (Comment number 14)