I was watching the last bit of the US Open and tried to explain to my wife the difference between the golfer who lays up to secure his position (and paycheck) and the golfer who goes for it.
But US Opens punish this aggressiveness. That's why length doesn't really matter there, but patience and steady ball-striking are the ingredients for a win, things, that maybe, a golder gains as he matures. Phil, however, has not gone gentle thus far. And Phil just can't seem to change his approach, and this is why, I suspect, many will cheer for him and not Tiger.Yes, Phil has finished as runner-up now six times at the US Open, most often falling out of the lead in spectacular fashion (remember the shot from the trash can?). Tiger, on the other hand, is best known as a great closer--if he has the lead, he's not giving it up. But Tiger's aggressiveness when trailing seems more like an impetuous teenager determined to prove everybody wrong, maybe even an act of self-flagellation.
Phil was not going to leave it short at this most recent US Open. A couple other golfers did--can't blame them. We are talking about hundreds of thousands of dollar. They have families to feed and houses to pay for.
But I told my wife that Phil would not leave his chip attempt short. And he didn't. It didn't cost him money as it has in the past b/c he had 2nd place to himself, but you had to like the courage to go for it--never up, never in.
In 2005, I had the great occasion to be at the British Open at St. Andrews (birthplace of golf). Colin Montgomerie was the local favorite who was right on Tiger's heels. Monty crushes his drive to pin-high on 18. We all believe he is going for eagle with a 40 yard pitch. I'm nearly right behind him when he pivots 45 degrees and putts to the top of the green, two putts from there and takes home his 2nd place check as Tiger walks away with his two-stroke victory.
Even then, I knew what Phil would have done. And it wouldn't be a lay-up putt from 40 yards.
Here is a nice piece that captures how my (and others, I'm sure) perception of Phil has evolved over the years.
(via EJ Dionne)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/thomas-boswell-even-in-defeat-its-easy-to-root-for-phil-mickelson/2013/06/16/08ef706c-d6d9-11e2-a73e-826d299ff459_story_1.html
