Here is the opening to my Thursday column on Phil Mickelson which really is a compare and contrast of him and Tiger Woods. Hey, I was an English major.
SAN FRANCISCO
When reporters interviewed Tiger Woods at the Olympic Club this week, they mostly asked about him. But when reporters interviewed Phil Mickelson, they mostly asked about him and Tiger.
It’s as though Mickelson exists in a binary universe, a Tiger/Phil universe in which Mickelson is the lesser star, overwhelmed by the glare of Woods’ sun. This even though Mickelson has played Woods tough recently, destroying him at Pebble Beach in February, Woods slouching off the course defeated and depressed.
To read the entire column, please click here.
stan
If you made as list of most hated sports Super star’s..Tiger might be near the top..Mayweather is all I can think of as a greater creator of dislike.
To this day I can’t remember a single article that was positive about Woods..not a single writer who said they enjoyed talking to Tiger.
But everybody wants to see him win. No way Mayweather is similar to that.
He’s an enigma..a paradox on top of a box of steroids.
June 13th, 2012 6:33 pm
RC
Lowell,
Did you read the Haney book? Between Hank and Tiger not sure which one is the bigger ass.
Also I’m pretty certain Phil is not as nice as everyone thinks he is, it’s a show.
June 13th, 2012 6:45 pm
Dennis
If the scoring was based on ones abililty to be interviewed Phil would be Tiger Woods. Unfortunately it is not and he is not. I watch golf to see people play the game in a way I can only imagine. I don’t watch to hear how they interview. My hope is that they both play well and are in it to the very last hole on Sunday. I don’t care who gets interviewed.
June 13th, 2012 10:40 pm
CohnZohn
Dennis, Then I suggest you shouldn’t read the interviews.
June 14th, 2012 7:04 am
Dave T
Hey RC,
I used to live in San Diego at the turn of the Milenium and one of the best things about living there was the golf, and being able to go to one of the best PGA Tour Events at Torrey Pines. For three years I went on the weekend, and always in Sunday. I learned the layout of the course, where to see the players the best and see the most golf. Heck I even learned to bring an empty 5 gallon paint bucket to sit/stand on to see better. My point here is that it is an event that both Tiger and Phil have made kind of their own event, a personal play ground of sorts, with each of them having won their on multiple occasions. One of the three years I attended is a year that Phil won the event, and during the playoff he sliced a shot so far left it was down the hill in just a thicket of brush. His fellow competitor had done the same, so both hit provisonal balls off the tee and Phil laced it down the middle and then proceeded to “look” for his original tee shot. I say “look” because you could hear him very loudly telling fans “stop looking!” for his ball. And when a fan though he was doing the right thing, found the ball and got the attention of the Marshal he was livid and very verbally loudly so. He was far from the nice and congenial player he usally appears to be and there were many fans around me who said that was fairly normal for the genereally viewed smiling and affable Mickelson.
Look, I am not here to bash the guy. As I have said in prior posts, he owes me nothing. And I commend he and his wife Amy for overcoming tremendous physical ailments in their lives. I do like to watch him play and compete and provide some counterbalace to all things Tiger. It makes for better theatre in the sport.
June 14th, 2012 7:50 am
Brady
Lowell, you offer a blog post within the hour of nearly every Lincecum start. Nothing yet on Cain’s perfect game; what gives?
June 14th, 2012 9:02 am
Tiburon Dave
Show or not, Mickelson understands the role of ambassador and he plays it well.
It’s a tradition in this game as well as in tennis.
Mickelson, Federer, Nadal…they all get it…
Tiger Woods couldn’t care less
June 14th, 2012 10:19 am
CohnZohn
Brady, I am up to my eyeballs in golf. Have been at the Olympic since 6:30 am. Went to sleep early last night. What Cain did was great. I wish I saw it.
June 14th, 2012 10:31 am
Dave T
Tale of the tape at 10:30. Woods E, Mickelson +4, Watson +5. So much for a featured group. Huge amount of golf to be played yet, but thus far it appears Woods game is in control and ready for the Open, whereas his playing partners are not. And it is hard to play well when your partners struggle, but if any player can do it, it is Woods, with his ability to focus and tune out everything else.
June 14th, 2012 10:37 am
Dennis
Lowell, When it comes to golf I usually don’t read or watch the interviews. The only exception is if they are talking about a particular shot they took during the tournament – then I listen or read.
I play a lot of golf. I love the game. I have played with pros, touring pros, professional caddies, even one of Tiger Woods early instructors. The human interest aspect does not intrigue me as much as understanding what makes these guys tick while playing the game. The fact that Phil Mickelson gives a better interview than Tiger Woods doesn’t intrigue me. I already know that he does.
June 14th, 2012 11:23 am
brady
Fair enough, Lowell. I hope you’re enjoying the Open, what an amazing opportunity for you to get to be there!
June 14th, 2012 12:54 pm
Mark M
It’s a nice piece, especially the last bit about their different styles…..classicist vs artist. I like that.
But none of these guys are going to complain about Tiger. He makes way too much money for all of them. Phil should be patient about that topic. No Tiger = far far far less money and attention for all of them. The PGA is like a traveling circus, including the announcers. Their featured act gets all the headlines, but they all benefit from him.
June 14th, 2012 2:32 pm
Dave T
PFFFFFFFFFFTTTTTTTT……….did you hear that? That was the air let out of the baloon of that morning “Featured” pairing of Woods, Mickelson and Watson. The +6 and +8 scores posted by Phil and Bubba respectively have them way down in the field and most definitely living the second part of the old “you can’t win a golf tournament on the first day, but you definitely lose it.” And with the USGA doing away with the Top 60 and those within 10 shots of the lead rule, you have to figure they will both need to be anywhere from -4 to -6 tomorrow just to make the weekend. Anything can happen, but if were a betting man I would wager very against that taking place.
Thanks for coming Phil and Bubba, we appreciate your attendance and playing in this years event. You can pick up your tee prize at the door. See you next year. Sincerely, The USGA.
June 14th, 2012 3:32 pm
Dennis
Mark M – Your last paragraph is right on every point. The only thing I would have to say about classicist vs. the artist is that their style of play really depends are where they are in the standings during a tournament. If Mickelson feels he needs to take chances to compete he will and so will Tiger. It is just that Tiger does not make as many mistakes as Phil and thus does not have to take as many chances.
June 14th, 2012 3:41 pm
Kay
Mr. Cohn, there was a perfect game yesterday! Thoughts?
June 14th, 2012 6:15 pm
CohnZohn
Kay, I didn’t see the game. Went to bed early because I had to get up at 5:30 am for the golf. I think Cain did great and I’m glad for him. He’s certainly the Giants ace.
June 14th, 2012 6:19 pm
Johnc
Enjoy the US Open Lowell while it is in our back yard. I don’t see much controversy going on …just action on the course which speaks for itself. Lots of surprises.
I look forward to future columns on the twin trainwrecks of Zito and Lincecum. As you know, Zito has gone back to being the Zito.
June 15th, 2012 4:26 am