How could you not feel the emotion, even tear up a little as Phil Mickelson won his third green jacket?
Here's a guy, watching his wife and his Mom battle breast cancer. And he comes up with a performance for the ages.
C'mon, there's probably two golfers on this earth that could hit the shot he did on 13. Only lefty and Tiger could put that magic off. Around the tree, over the creek...land 10 feet from the hole, on a dime. And that's why we love him...because he's like the rest of us duffer players, with talent. Grip it and rip it. Go for the gusto, and let the results either be spectacular....or spectacularly awful.
Quietly, while his wife fought cancer...Phil held back his emotions. Why were people criticizing him for being a family guy, when Tiger was living a lie? It didn't seem fair.
Well, justice was served on Sunday. And while I thought Tiger would be, well, Tiger, and finish in the top 5...he proved he hasn't changed in two other areas as well.
One, not enjoying the moment and saying he only plays to win. Normally I'm with him on that one, but these were extreme circumstances. Soak it in. And everyone knows he and Phil don't exactly see eye to eye. It came off like a guy upset that the only other active player close to him in Masters wins, is now 1 away from tying him...which is exactly what just happened.
And two, he was the one who said he was going to clean up his language, and play more by golf's code of ethics. Then he let off a verbal blast that might make a sailor blush on Sunday, and then gets huffy when asked about it.
Tiger, you brought up controlling your emotions better. So why wouldn't the question come up? You still have a mighty lesson to learn...that you might have supreme focus, but you can't control everything.
Emails at lallan@todaystmj4.com
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