Top 10: Phil vs. Tiger, Rory vs. Lee, Pebble Weather

The AT&T National Pro-Am had more than amazing scenery this season. 

It had the matchup that every golf fan has yearned for every season since 1997:  Tiger versus Phil. 

This time, Phil came out on top in the pairing and for the tournament. Mickelson leapfrogged over third-round leader Charlie Wi with three birdies and an eagle in the early holes in the final round at Pebble Beach.  It was so riveting, we didn’t even need whales on Sunday.  It was definitely all about the golf. 

10. The International Federation of PGA Tours’ New Event

The International Federation of PGA Tours organization, formed in 1996 by golf’s five world governing bodies—the European Tour, Japan Golf Tour Organization, PGA Tour, PGA Tour of Australasia and Sunshine Tour (South Africa PGA Tour) with the purpose of providing a forum for the world’s professional golf organizations to discuss issues of mutual importance—announced a new event:  the Tournament of Hope, a sanctioned event which will be played the last week or November, the first week of December beginning in 2013. 

It will be Thanksgiving week in the U.S.  The event will be staged by the Sunshine Tour, which is in South Africa. The event will help raise awareness of HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment.  They say it will have a field similar to at WGC event, i.e. not exactly appearance fees, but guaranteed money for last place.

9. Pebble Weather

50 years ago, it snowed during the Pebble Beach tournament.   Of course, no one mentions that it was played in January during that time.  Seeing the weather, Jimmy Demeret reportedly quipped,  "I know I got loaded last night, but how did I end up in Squaw Valley?"

This year was not snowy, but it was definitely what the golf pros call "cashmere weather."  Umbrellas were a handy accessory.

8. Third Round Leaders

Usually it’s a good thing to have the lead after 54 holes at a golf tournament.  However, this season has been the exception.  Once again, a third-round leader bit the dust.  Charlie Wi joins Jeff Maggert, Matt Every, Kyle Stanley and Spencer Levin as guys who led but were overtaken in the final round by someone else.  Phil Mickelson was six shots back of the leader at the beginning of his final round.   

7. Bill Murray

Bill Murray never disappoints, so long as you are looking for nutty people. 

This year he dressed kind of like a shrub, with leafy things attached to his garb.  Obviously, he was trying to sneak up on another AT&T National Pebble Beach Pro-Am title disguised as nature.  The outfit didn’t work for him as well as last year’s plaid shirt. He missed the cut. 

6. the Golf Channel

For a change, The Golf Channel had some of the best parts of a round.  

Early holes with Tiger and Phil allowed viewers to see Mickelson begin his assault on par through the first six holes when he had three birdies and an eagle.  Then they provided recaps of the holes reports until CBS finished up the college basketball game and could go back to the tournament. By the time network coverage started, Mickelson was already in the lead and never looked back.

5. Butch Harmon Tips. Amy’s Cheering Skills.

Whatever Butch has been telling Phil, he needs to keep telling him.  It looks like Phil is  listening again.  We all know Amy used to be a cheerleader, so whatever rah rah stuff she whispered in Phil’s ear after her arrival, it worked.  

4. Lee and Rory

The desert in Dubai was lit with the stars including Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy.  McIlroy led after two rounds. Lee Westwood was in the lead after three rounds, but of course it is who is ahead late on Sunday that counts. 

Strangely enough, lesser-known Rafael Cabrera-Bello passed the name players on Sunday.    

3. Jessica Who?

Talk about playoffs.  Jessica Korda, newcomer to the LPGA, was in a six-way playoff at the Australian Open.  They had so many players, it was decided that they would play in two threesomes.  Korda came away the victor after her threesome played the 18^th hole twice.  She was the only one to make a birdie on the hole, a 25-footer, and in the process beat Stacy Lewis, Brittany Lincicome, Julieta Granada, So Yeon Ryu and Hee Kyung Seo. 

The 18 year old was born in Florida, but her parents are formerly from the Czech Republic.

2. Tiger Woods

He’s nearly back.  He’s not 100%, but despite the 75 on Sunday, you can see flashes of his game returning. Woods looked better than he had in Dubai.  No doubt he’s on an improvement program that he hopes will lead him to the winners circle around about April.  Nick Faldo had an interesting observation when he said that as yet, Woods is not able to will shots to happen the way he used to.  Just wait, Nick.  You know it’s coming.   What was really interesting was the toned down Tiger after missed shots.  Does it have to do with his children wanting to see dad on TV?  He can’t be swearing in front of them, can he?

1. Phil Mickelson

Mickelson was like most winners, happy about the situation, but his 40^th PGA Tour victory, after a couple of disappointing seasons, was like a black cloud had finally lifted. 

“It means a lot to me because I haven't played the last year the way I would like to,” he said. “I felt like my game was so close heading into the season, and yet my scores didn't reflect how I felt I was playing.”

With 40 notched on his belt, he’s now the ninth winningest player after legends like Sam Snead, Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Byron Nelson, Billy Casper and Walter Hagen.   He is one ahead of Tom Watson and Gene Sarazen, and is tied with Cary Middlecoff.  He needs five more to tie Hagen.

When it came to discussing Tiger, Phil stayed on the message he has used for several seasons.

“I'm just very appreciative of what he's meant to the game of golf over the years,”  Mickelson said about Woods. “I don't believe anybody has benefitted more from what he's done for the game than myself, so I'm appreciative.

“I also am inspired playing with him.  I think most people are, but he seems to bring out the best in me, and the last four or five years, I've played some of my best golf playing with him and I really enjoy it,” he added.  He also said he’d gotten drummed a bunch of time by Woods, too.

Mickelson reminded everyone that it was not just a Phil vs. Tiger day.

“Charlie Wi was leading the tournament by six shots over me,” he said about his goal for the day, “so I had needed to go out and shoot a low round to catch him.”