12/03/24
January 16, 2007
Lefty Yearns To Make It Right. : Phil The Thrill has new equipment, has shedded pounds and added muscle, and has lessons learned.
I hope Phil comes back strong as ever, but it remains to be seen. He is immensely talented, and fun to watch when he's on top of his game, but his performance since last years US Open collapse has been pretty lackluster. Even if he wins no more majors in his career, his resume will be much more impressive than many other players considered pretty fair in their own right, but he, and many of us, would be disappointed as well. Good luck Phil.
posted by mjkredliner at 08:15 PM on January 16, 2007
Yes, I do too, enjoy watching Phil. It would be great to see him come back.
posted by t money at 08:31 PM on January 16, 2007
Lefty says he has lost 20 or 25 pounds during his long offseason and put on 15 pounds of muscle by including weightlifting to his regimen for the first time. He does cardio work for an hour a day, and he started a new martial arts program. Can anyone else smell the next steroid scandal? Perhaps the PGA is next on Dick Pound's hit list? Personally, I just want to know what math to go with ... did he lose 20 or 25 pounds, or 5-10 pounds overall?
posted by Spitztengle at 09:19 PM on January 16, 2007
Learning from his mistakes has never been a problem for Mickelson. The question is usually how soon before he forgets. That's the final line in the story, and sums it all up pretty well. Phil's the kind of guy who goes around the course for four days, doing everything he should and making all the right decisions, but then it's almost like he can't resist the temptation. He could manage his way around many courses without using the driver, but always seems to have a few holes where his aggressiveness gets the best of him. I understand he's always liked to gamble, but that attitude will be tough for him to overcome on a consistent basis. Losing some of that pudge can't hurt him over the course of the season, though.
posted by dyams at 07:37 AM on January 17, 2007
Could we have a moment of silence for the loss of the manboobs?
posted by wfrazerjr at 09:12 AM on January 17, 2007
I'll believe it when I see it. Maybe this is his wake-up call, but he still has a LONG way to go to catch Tiger. Or, Jim Furyk for that matter. you seriously think that jim furyk is a better golfer than phil mickelson?
posted by dfleming at 10:16 AM on January 17, 2007
you seriously think that jim furyk is a better golfer than phil mickelson? If you look at the 2006 statistics for scoring average and money earned, Furyk gets the nod. Furyk earned 7.8 mil with a 69.45 scoring average. Lefty earned 4.2 mil with a 70.07 scoring average. I definitely think Furyk is a more consistent player than Lefty; he doesn't seem to be as prone to the big mental mistakes that Phil makes. I think Mick is more creative around the greens and has more raw talent that Jim. They are both accomplished golfers who utilize different skill sets to achieve similiar results. I say its a "pick em" as to who is better than the other.
posted by danjel at 10:38 AM on January 17, 2007
Does anyone else think that Lefty is happy that Elin Nordegren (Tiger's wife) is pregnant? I mean, is there anything in the world that could possibly make Tiger's game drop a notch or two than his first child? It's going to be a whole new experience for him. Honestly, I hope he stays focused, but a child can make a lot of things seem less important.
posted by hellamarine at 12:17 PM on January 17, 2007
Hellamarine, consisdering Nicklaus won all 18 of his majors after he had his first child, I doubt Tiger game will be impacted by the birth of his first child. As most of us know, Tiger has a mental focus that is second to none on the PGA Tour. I highly doubt Phil has given Tiger's family much thought.
posted by danjel at 03:51 PM on January 17, 2007
shedded pounds, new muscle?? Sounds like we may have another David Duval on our hands. Say it aint so Ms. Doubtfire!
posted by bluekarma at 05:50 PM on January 17, 2007
you seriously think that jim furyk is a better golfer than phil mickelson? YES! Funky swing and all. But hopefully with the loss of the he-hooters, that can be remedied.
posted by t money at 06:16 PM on January 17, 2007
If Phat Phil is skinny this year, I'm going to the Masters so I can throw glazed donuts at him. In a related manner, I will be nothing but civil to John Daly.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 06:22 PM on January 17, 2007
Danjel, Tiger's name is NOT Jack Nicklaus, and considering how his relationship was with his father (who passed away less than a year ago), I was merely pointing out this could (not would) effect his game. Do you have any children of your own? I do, and my life certainly changed after they were born. A child tends to change one's perspective on what is important is all I'm saying.
posted by hellamarine at 11:15 PM on January 17, 2007
If the rest of the PGA is banking on a pregnancy/child to give their chances a boost, then the huge gap between Tiger and the rest of the field is even greater than anyone assumed (which I never thought possible). Until Woods has to deal with something like major injury and/or his wife divorcing him and dragging him over the coals (ala Fred Couples), I don't think a toddler will impact him too much. I think his wife understands the situation, and with all the money Tiger has, the wife and kid will be at as many events, with babysitters, her family, friends, whatever she needs, that I don't see it being too big a challenge. Plus, while the other players are stressing and worrying about their games after rounds, Tiger will probably be off spending time and playing with the kid. Some thought getting married to an ultra-hot blonde model would drag his game down. The only thing that could possibly level the playing field between Tiger and the rest of the pretenders is if he decides to retire from the game.
posted by dyams at 07:12 AM on January 18, 2007
Fat Phil's going with the old "I lost 25lbs of fat and put on 15lbs of muscle" routine, is he? How exactly is he measuring these things? Time will tell, but the only place he really needed to lose a bit of weight - for the good of his golf if not the good of his heart - was around his ego. "Step away from the driver, Fat Phil, you're going to ruin your own day." "No, no, it's fine, watch, I'll just it it 450 yards over that river and everything will be fine, watch..... oooops." The guy had it - he had an understanding of himself and an ability to listen to that understanding - but it didn't last and he reverted to "attack attack attack!", which worked about as well as an ashtray on a motorbike doesn't. Maybe he'll get that ability back, even just for a brief spell in the middle or towards the end of a tournament would be enough. you seriously think that jim furyk is a better golfer than phil mickelson? You'd have to be pretty willful not to. At this moment, according to the rankings and the eyes in the heads of just about any golf fan with any clue about the game, of course he is (and so is Adam Scott). In terms of how their careers will stack up, we can't argue about that until they've hung up their spikes. Tiger's having a baby now? Is there nothing that man can't do?
posted by JJ at 09:52 AM on January 18, 2007
Phil hits it long, but I bet he's not as long as the Lama: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnHaTlI1p7o
posted by JJ at 09:53 AM on January 18, 2007
If Phil decides to hang up his spikes, there's always something he can do. The world needs ditch diggers too, Danny.
posted by hawkguy at 10:01 AM on January 18, 2007
The only ditch Phil will be digging is one straight to the bank.
posted by mjkredliner at 10:23 AM on January 18, 2007
And possibly one in a sandtrap.
posted by yerfatma at 11:22 AM on January 18, 2007
"You don't have to go to college, Danny. This isn't Russia... Is this Russia?.. This isn't Russia."
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 03:46 PM on January 18, 2007
I see this thread has gone right in the lumberyard.
posted by danjel at 11:18 AM on January 19, 2007
Don't sell yourself short, Phil. You're a tremendous slouch.
posted by BullpenPro at 01:18 PM on January 19, 2007
It just doesn't end.... If you guys want to be replaced by golf carts, just keep it up!
posted by danjel at 01:50 PM on January 19, 2007
I'll believe it when I see it. Maybe this is his wake-up call, but he still has a LONG way to go to catch Tiger. Or, Jim Furyk for that matter. He's needed to shed some pounds for years, and to a point, equipment doesn't make a golfer. As long as it's properly fit to your swing, you can hit anything. Especially as a pro. The only reason he has new equipment is because Callaway just released a new line of Tour clubs (Tour Forged irons and FT-5 driver/fairways).