Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson: Sit Back and Enjoy the Show

Forget about Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler, Ryo Ishikawa, Graeme McDowell, Martin Kaymer and the rest of the so-called “young guns” in the world of golf.

There are two truly great golfers and only two truly great golfers that will emerge from this generation: Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. Even Mickelson probably needs to accomplish a little more to be considered one of the game’s all-time greats.

Now, when I say “great,” I’m talking about a class of players that includes the likes of Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Walter Hagen, Arnold Palmer, Sam Snead, Gene Sarazen, Byron Nelson, Tom Watson and so on.

Woods falls at or near the top of this list, and with two or three more majors, Mickelson would likely join this distinguished class as well.

Now, I don’t have a crystal ball sitting in front of me—if I did, I’d probably be sitting on my yacht somewhere off the coast of St. Thomas instead of my computer, writing about a bunch of guys hitting a little white ball around miles of pristinely cut grass.

However, my best guess based on watching many years of golf and studying the game’s history is that McIlroy might win a few majors, Westwood will probably get the monkey off his back and win a major at some point, Johnson may win a couple during the course of his career, Fowler is more likely not to win a major and McDowell may snatch one more at some point.

The only exception amongst this class of “young guns” or "new world order" is Kaymer. This is based not only on his skill and most notably his proven ability to sink those must-make putts on Sunday afternoon, but also his steely, Hogan-esque, nothing rattles me demeanor on the golf course.

Even Kaymer is most likely looking at a Nick Faldo type of career at best. Now, that’s by no means a knock on Faldo, who had an outstanding career, but he’s simply not in the same class as guys like Nicklaus, Woods, Hogan, Jones and Hagen.

It has recently become obvious to me that because Woods and Mickelson have not been playing their best golf as of late, we’re desperately attempting to prop up these “young guns,” no matter how little they have accomplished or have the potential to accomplish in this game.

Fowler, for example, has yet to win a PGA Tour event, let alone a major.

McIlroy has only won two professional events in four years and has already revealed a propensity to let big-time tournaments slip through his hands on the weekend.

McDowell, although now a major champion, is on the first real hot streak of his career.

Meanwhile, Westwood simply has not put forth any evidence that would suggest he has what it takes to reach out and grab a major championship on Sunday afternoon.

Why is everyone so interested in Woods and Mickelson when there are so many other “great” young players on tour right now, you may be asking?

Well, the answer to that question is quite simple. Out of the top 66 players in the world attending this week’s Cadillac World Golf Championship at Doral, there are only two men that will be remembered 30 years from now: Woods and Mickelson.

The rest make up a mostly uninteresting supporting cast that will likely fall into a category alongside players such as Tom Lehman, David Toms, Ian Woosnam, Mark O’Meara and Tom Kite. All are very good players, but unless you are a golf historian, they are names that will slowly fade away until they are eventually lost in history.

So when Woods and Mickelson step onto the first tee together this afternoon at Doral, simply sit back and enjoy the show.

Trust me, your grandchildren ain't gonna be asking you what it was like to watch Lee Westwood play golf.

For more no-nonsense PGA Tour news, insight and analysis, check out The Tour Report.