Phil Mickelson becomes the Presidents Cup punching bag

Phil Mickelson has been getting some bad press as of late. A rumor has turned up on the internet that he fathered a child by an exotic dancer. The “Family Guy” episode which featured wife, Amy, was none too flattering and now Mike Weir and the Presidents Cup International Team have been playing their own mental games with Phil.

Assistant International Team Captain, Ian Baker Finch, claimed that Mike Weir had “Phil’s number". Weir added, “I’ve had some great success against Phil". While Mickelson bounced back with a “Did he beat me?", he also rebounded with, “they have to keep riding that out until me, or we, are able to change that.”

Even Vijay Singh got in on the razzing when he jokingly doffed his hat and said, “Phil who?". Singh obviously felt he picked an easier target for this Presidents Cup than when, in 2000, his caddy boldly emblazoned “Tiger Who?” on the back of his cap. That joke was lost on Woods as he easily defeated Vijay in their singles match.

Butch Harmon is probably staying out of the fracas this week as he coaches both Adam Scott and Phil so Mickelson can’t expect to be receiving any “inside information” as to how to beat guys on the International squad. With Mickelson “on his own” will he be able to fend for himself or will he fall apart like a cheap suit as he did when he blew his first opportunity to win the 2006 U.S. Open?

Mental game strategy with his “eye on the prize” attitude has always suited Mickelon. As long as he doesn’t listen to the taunts and jeers of the opposing team and doesn’t allow others to get inside his head, Phil will most certainly land on his feet.