Phil Mickelson's lucky shot at Colonial: this kind of reckless behavior shouldn't be encouraged
Sunday May 25, 2008 | 08:56:59 pm 323 words, 4247 views
Does anyone else get the feeling that rewarding Phil Mickelson with a Colonial victory after he blew another tee shot left on the 72nd hole is like buying your daughter a convertible right after she flunked out of college?
This behavior cannot be encouraged.
If you missed it this afternoon, Mickelson came to the 18th tee tied for the lead with his playing partner Rod Pampling and Tim Clark, who was in the clubhouse.
Mickelson blew his drive left into the trees ala Winged Foot. Pampling was straight down the middle.
The commentators deemed Mickelson in jail, and said his best bet was to hit a little cut shot out of the trees and hope for an up-and-down and a playoff.
So Mickelson hits an unthinkable 52-degree wedge hook out of the trees (audio evidence shows his ball hit some leaves). Judging by the aerial camera, his ball landed probably two feet over the short side bunker and settled to about ten feet.
Flustered, Pampling couldn’t hit his ball inside 30 feet. Mickelson made his putt and walked off with the plaid jacket.
Clearly Mickelson hasn’t learned anything from his Winged Foot disaster. It was exciting as hell today, sure. I was rolling around on my couch in uncontrollable laughter.
But that doesn’t mean that kind of shot is healthy, Phil. Come major time, do you really think the rough will be that low and you’ll be able to pull that one-in-a-million shot off?
Apparently Mickelson isn’t playing with another wood in his bag besides his driver. His next longest club is a 3-iron, and the rest of his clubs are wedges, I guess. Someone needs to introduce him to the wonders of the hybrid. I have a Callaway hybrid and I’m automatic with it off the tee. A cool 240-50 with it. Ask anyone who’s played with me in the last few months. It never misses.
You’re a Callaway man, right Lefty? GET ONE!!!
Comments, Pingbacks:
Comment from: Oliver Sudden [Visitor]
I would have loved to hear all the Monday morning quarterbacks if Phil's shot on 18 had hit a tree and he made bogey or worse. When he lost the Open at Winged Foot even he 2nd quessed himself. But all this talk is hogwash. How many shots has he saved by pulling off miracle shots ? When one of these shots doesn't work out the critics go wild but remain silent when he pulls it off. This is Phil's personality and he should and will keep going for it, it's good for the game.
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05/25/08 @ 23:14
Comment from: Rick [Visitor]
It is so obvious that true golf fans either love or
hate Phil. He has so much talent and what drives
most to like him is his style of being and ordinary,
fun to hang out with guy who makes the same mental
mistakes we all do on the course. In his defense he
has 34 wins and a crazy amount of money doing what he
loves to do
hate Phil. He has so much talent and what drives
most to like him is his style of being and ordinary,
fun to hang out with guy who makes the same mental
mistakes we all do on the course. In his defense he
has 34 wins and a crazy amount of money doing what he
loves to do
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05/26/08 @ 01:26
Comment from: Richard Smith [Visitor]
It cracks me up to hear someone try to tell Phil, the #2 player in the world, to get a club. Why should he listen to you? Are you the #1 player in the world? Oh yeah, how many hybrids do you see Tiger hitting? Hmmmm....NOT! He hits his 2 iron or 3 wood so neither he, nor Phil, need your genius advice.
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05/26/08 @ 15:36
Comment from: Richard Smith [Visitor] · http://samich61@tks-net.com
It cracks me up to hear someone try to tell Phil, the #2 player in the world, to get a club. Why should he listen to you? Are you the #1 player in the world? Oh yeah, how many hybrids do you see Tiger hitting? Hmmmm....NOT! He hits his 2 iron or 3 wood so neither he, nor Phil, need your genius advice.
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05/26/08 @ 15:38
Comment from: Ron Mon [Member] · http://www.buffalogolfer.com
Well, Tuck, I won't bail on you as you bail on me. Richard Smith, you are wrong...Phil needs our genius advice. Tiger hits five woods when he needs to, stinger 3 irons when he needs to. Phil has neither of these shots off the tee. Can anyone come up with ten miracle shots that Phil has hit that have actually paid off? I remember the dunker at Bay Hill and the Wide Left at Winged Foot as clunkers, so he's already down, 1-2, in the risk/reward competition.
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05/26/08 @ 19:06
Comment from: smudge [Visitor]
So Tucker, what would you have said if Tiger had made that shot? you know he would have chosen the exact same shot to make if he was in that position, which he is in almost as much as Phil is. So would Tiger making that shot be behaviour that also is not encouraged? You can't tell me Phil is any less talented than Tiger from 140 yards, whether in the trees or not.
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05/27/08 @ 11:17
Comment from: Brandon Tucker [Member] · http://www.worldgolf.com/blogs/brandon.tucker
It's not so much the shot out of the trees but the fact he still can't find fairways in crunch time.
When is the last time Tiger found jail on the 18th when he was tied for the lead? He woulda hit that "stinger" or a 2-iron safely and let his putter win it from 20-feet like Bay Hill.
When is the last time Tiger found jail on the 18th when he was tied for the lead? He woulda hit that "stinger" or a 2-iron safely and let his putter win it from 20-feet like Bay Hill.
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05/27/08 @ 11:20
Comment from: patricia [Visitor] · http://www.thegolfgirl.blogspot.com
This past weekend I made an implausible shot through the trees... after totally messing up my tee shot with the wrong club. My miracle shots rarely work but this one did so of course I immediately attributed it to talent and skill. d:o)
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05/27/08 @ 11:31
Comment from: Shanks [Member] · http://www.travelgolf.com/blogs/shanks
Phil's problem is not as much club selection as it is a swing fault that occurs under intense pressure. As good an instructor as Butch Harmon is, and as great (yes, great) a player as Phil Mickelson is, I'm sure they have noticed and are working on it.
However, he & his caddie Bones should be shot for not hitting 3-wood off the 72nd tee at Winged Foot (had it with him that week), then shot a second time for not pitching the ball back to the fairway instead of going for the green. The difference was he had a one shot lead in the Open and playing for par/bogey after the awful tee shot gets him a win or in a playoff at worst.
However, he & his caddie Bones should be shot for not hitting 3-wood off the 72nd tee at Winged Foot (had it with him that week), then shot a second time for not pitching the ball back to the fairway instead of going for the green. The difference was he had a one shot lead in the Open and playing for par/bogey after the awful tee shot gets him a win or in a playoff at worst.
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05/27/08 @ 12:05
Comment from: Alex [Visitor]
Brandon, Ron Mon, and Shanks,
Phil makes the most spectacular recovery shot that most folks have ever seen, and you birds see fit to criticize him.
All three of you clowns would kick if you were hanged with a new rope.
Alex USMC 1969-73
Phil makes the most spectacular recovery shot that most folks have ever seen, and you birds see fit to criticize him.
All three of you clowns would kick if you were hanged with a new rope.
Alex USMC 1969-73
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05/27/08 @ 13:25
Comment from: Brian Thibodeaux [Visitor]
This is a Joke right? Telling the most exciting
and one of the greatest talents to ever play
the game what to do. How did you get his Job?
and one of the greatest talents to ever play
the game what to do. How did you get his Job?
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05/27/08 @ 17:17
Comment from: Andy [Visitor]
Obviously guys, Phil doesn't like 3 wood off the tee. Thats why he doesn't use it under pressure situations. Most people would rather use driver under pressure, the pros included. (Except for Tiger who is clearly on another planet)
It's the bomb and gouge theory which as we saw, does work. In this case for a win!
His problem at the US Open was not the tee shot, it was the bone-head second shot.
240-250 every time with a hybrid??
Gee it's just that easy.
It's the bomb and gouge theory which as we saw, does work. In this case for a win!
His problem at the US Open was not the tee shot, it was the bone-head second shot.
240-250 every time with a hybrid??
Gee it's just that easy.
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05/27/08 @ 18:27
Comment from: Ron Mon [Member] · http://www.buffalogolfer.com
I love it when Alex invents playful expressions like "kick with a new rope." Cute one, Alex. Actually, Alex, name more than five Phil recovery shots that have been made in crunch time...they all come on Thursday, when the cameras are off, when the pressure is light. That's the first one dispatched.
Thibodeaux, imagine your job. Then imagine risking your retirement every day...wouldn't make much sense. Phil's place in history will not be secured by victories in the Colonial; instead, it will be written in major-championship ink. He can go down as the second coming of Arnie "Watch me give another one away" Palmer or he can chill down to a modern-day Walter Hagen, who was not nearly as crazy as Phil! Two down, one to go.
Andy, it IS that easy for them. It's like breathing for you and me (assuming you have lungs or gills.) His problem at the Open WAS the tee shot, just as Van de velde's was also the tee shot. Bomb and gouge (nice cliche) no longer works in any of the majors. As far as Tiger and the late greats are concerned, Phil can win all the Colonials he desires. The major championships define historical transcendence.
Thibodeaux, imagine your job. Then imagine risking your retirement every day...wouldn't make much sense. Phil's place in history will not be secured by victories in the Colonial; instead, it will be written in major-championship ink. He can go down as the second coming of Arnie "Watch me give another one away" Palmer or he can chill down to a modern-day Walter Hagen, who was not nearly as crazy as Phil! Two down, one to go.
Andy, it IS that easy for them. It's like breathing for you and me (assuming you have lungs or gills.) His problem at the Open WAS the tee shot, just as Van de velde's was also the tee shot. Bomb and gouge (nice cliche) no longer works in any of the majors. As far as Tiger and the late greats are concerned, Phil can win all the Colonials he desires. The major championships define historical transcendence.
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05/27/08 @ 21:33
Comment from: Alex [Visitor]
Ron Mon,
I didn't just invent that expression, in fact, I rattled the slats on my cradle the first time I heard it. And it goes, "---kick if you were HANGED with a new rope---". But I think you knew that already.
I'll leave you jokers to your own designs. Soon the sweet smell and I will be journeying down to Columbus for our annual trip to the Memorial. This will be our sixth time and our fourth consecutive.
If I see Phil, I'll tell him not to waste any spectacular recovery shots until and unless he is in contention to win on the last three holes on Sunday.
Alex USMC 1969-73
I didn't just invent that expression, in fact, I rattled the slats on my cradle the first time I heard it. And it goes, "---kick if you were HANGED with a new rope---". But I think you knew that already.
I'll leave you jokers to your own designs. Soon the sweet smell and I will be journeying down to Columbus for our annual trip to the Memorial. This will be our sixth time and our fourth consecutive.
If I see Phil, I'll tell him not to waste any spectacular recovery shots until and unless he is in contention to win on the last three holes on Sunday.
Alex USMC 1969-73
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05/28/08 @ 08:27
Comment from: OrlandoGolfBlogger [Visitor] · http://www.orlandogolfblogger.com
Good decision or Bad decision, love 'em or hate 'em, it was damn exciting to watch him pull that off!
It's good to hear I'm not the only one left who's playing without a hybrid... :)
It's good to hear I'm not the only one left who's playing without a hybrid... :)
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05/28/08 @ 16:20
Comment from: Rob Turner [Visitor] · http://www.golfswingsecretsrevealed.com/blog/2008/05/26/mickelson-hits-wonder-shot-en-route-to-colon
No No! I honestly urge anybody who harbors the remotest thought of passing on some sane advice to Phil Mickelson to hold back and not pass it on to Mickelson. We need players like him. That is the reason golf is fun. Sure he blew his tee shot but only a quality player could get out of it with the kind of shot he played. What joy is there in seeing players play from tee to fairway to green again and again and again. Either get golf course designers to be more innovative or just pass on a bottle of rum to each player before he decides to step on to the tee to play his first shot. While the latter would be a fun option, I would probably vote for the former and pray that some courses are designed where every shot needs some solid thought process behind it. The keep it simple advice is irritating anyway. So good on ya Phil! Keep in going like this. Let nobody try and contain this so called recklessness. Had it not been for that drive people would not have been still talking about that “out of jail and into the arms of mother glory” second shot.
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06/02/08 @ 10:31 Leave a comment:
Brandon Tucker
a WorldGolf.com Blog
WorldGolf.com's Brandon Tucker offers his unique perspective on golf and travel destinations from Scotland and Ireland to Myrtle Beach. He also chimes in on news events on the PGA and LPGA Tours, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and other happenings around the world of golf.
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