Like a sleepy old bear, Phil Mickelson came out of hibernation and began his 2010 golf season at the newly named Farmer Insurance Open held at beautiful Torrey Pines, near San Diego. His play was somewhat erratic which for Phil “The Thrill” is the one consistent theme in his golf game. The always upbeat Mickelson informed everyone that he had been working very hard throughout January with his swing coach Butch Harmon, short game guru, Dave Pels, putting instructor Dave Stockton, as well as, his strength and conditioning coach and is excited about competing in 2010.

The press didn’t waste any time at all getting their precious sound bytes. When asked about the absence of Tiger Woods, he said all the right things. The PGA Tour needed Tiger and he hoped that Tiger would return soon. Phil and his wife are friends of Tiger and Elin and respectfully declined to discuss the Woods’s personal problems.

Fellow golf professional Scott McCarron fired off a couple of nasty remarks aimed at Phil and a couple of other tour players concerning their use of “square groove” Ping Eye 2 wedges. The Tour has adopted a new rule for 2010 that prohibits the use of “square groove” wedges that allow for more control of the golf ball around the greens. Due to a costly lawsuit between The USGA and Ping back in the 1990’s a settlement was made to grandfather an exemption for Ping Eye 2 “square groove” wedges that were manufactured between 1985 – 1989. Phil, as well as, a few other innovative players clicked on ebay, snapped up old Ping wedges and put them in their bags, completely within the rules. McCarron contends that use of the Ping wedges is against tour rules and that Phil was using illegal clubs. Phil took exception to this and felt slandered by McCarron. He further stated that even though he didn’t agree with the recent Tour decision prohibiting the use of square grooves, he was complying with the rule and would do so in the future. All this made some great press. Without Tiger the PGA needs all the help it can get.

With all these issues being bandied about on Tour the true issue is that the Tour needs Phil Mickelson to play and play well. Tiger and Phil are #1 and #2 respectively in the World Golf Rankings, as well as, the two biggest draws in the game today. With a struggling economy, lagging ticket sales, disappearing corporate sponsorships, and the World #1 taking a respite from golf, the Tour needs Phil.

The other side to this issue is that Phil needs Tiger. Even if he comes out and wins some events without Tiger in the field, it will almost be as if they don’t count. Every great athlete needs an equally talented challenger to attain true greatness; Ali needed Frazier just as Palmer needed Nicklaus in their day. They need someone to push them to ever greater accomplishments and to validate their achievement.

Phil can use the next few weeks getting his game ready for the majors that start with the Masters in early April. If and when Tiger comes back to tour golf he may not be motivated and ready to play. Phil could conceivably have an edge on Tiger in 2010. A couple of major titles for Phil, with Tiger in the field, would spark a gigantic uptick in golf lore and create a buzz for the whole golf community.

This could be Phil’s time to achieve the greatness that been just out of his reach since that pesky Tiger Woods joined the tour in 1997.

I can’t wait for “Amen Corner” and the “Back 9” at Augusta in April.

This entry was posted on Monday, February 1st, 2010 at 3:47 pm and is filed under Sports, The Back Nine.
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