Knee-Jerk Theatre: Phil Mickelson's latest playoff loss examined

Welcome everyone to the latest installment of “Knee-Jerk Theatre,” the blog where we take a recent sporting event, and look at how other bloggers completely freaked out over it. Today we’ll be looking at how bloggers reacted to Phil Mickelson’s second-place finish at the Nissan Open, as he lost in a playoff to Charles Howell III in his effort to win consecutive PGA Tour events.

Knee-Jerk Theatre

Here’s what some bloggers (picked at random) had to say about Mickelson’s loss, which saw him bogey Hole No. 18, and then three-putt on the third playoff hole to open the door for Howell, who won on Tour for the first time in nearly five years.

“In the end, all Mickelson had to do was make a routine up-and-down - his bread-and-butter and something he did earlier that day from a tougher spot - to win on the second playoff hole. He didn’t, and 75 holes after everyone proclaimed “Phil’s Back!” - we’re now back to ground zero with the Inexplicable One.”

–Brandon Tucker

This guy is supposed to be one of the best golfers in the world – many will tell you he’s second only to Tiger Woods – and he folds like a jackknife under pressure. … I just think Lefty has proven he doesn’t have the intestinal fortitude to be a consistent winner when it’s close.

–Tim McDonald

Interesting Phil Mickelson Fact

With the loss to Howell, Mickelson’s record in playoffs falls to 7-2.
_________________________________________________________

That’ll do it for Knee-Jerk Theatre. Join us next time as we look at bloggers debating whether Elin Nordegren entering her second trimester will be the straw that breaks the camel’s back and sends Tiger Woods’ career straight down the crapper.

–WKW