Phil Mickelson, tough golfer

Phil Mickelson has to be the most exasperating golfer alive.  My frequent comment to friends is “that Mickelson is the greatest no pressure golfer ever.”  When he was behind at The Masters earlier this year he made a super charge playing the front nine in an incredible 30 strokes to surge into contention and as soon as he smelled the lead, he missed a couple of makeable putts and dropped back.  Same thing with the US Open at Winged Foot a few years back.  And over and over again…  Mickelson is an incredible talent, until he really has to play, then who knows what may happen.  He has a one US Open lead on Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Sam Snead and Robert Trent Jones Jr.  Where is he ahead of this who’s who of golf legends?  Second place finishes, where he stands alone with five and no US Open wins to his credit. 

     In saying that, I give Phil a huge pass after watching him this weekend.  His fifth second place finish was a work of art.  Not in the details, where he again charged into the fray of contention and grabbed a share of the lead, only to miss a couple of short putts to drop back down again.  No, Mickleson played with the weight of the world on his shoulders and delivered a fabulous performance.  With his wife Amy at home and diagnosed with cancer, Phil went out to win the Silver US Open trophy for her.  And despite the turmoil, Mickelson was the consummate competitor, playing to the crowd, signing autographs and showing guts when one knows he could have just skipped this tournament to be with his wife. 

     No one would have faulted Mickleson, except Mickelson himself.  And on this weekend at Bethpage, Phil Mickelson proved himself a much tougher golfer than any of us gave him credit for.