“The only thing to be said n his defense is that that course was impossible on Saturday.”
As it was in 2004 when he finished second.
Yes it was impossible then too, but he was fourteen years younger and managed to be tied for the lead through seventy-one holes. Phil is the modern-day Sam Snead, he will never win The Open*. Is a man, a professional golfer, a failure because he did not do so? I don't think so. Most of the professional golfers wold give their left arm to win one major; Phil has five. Sorry, I just like the guy. He was always a good contrast to Woods.
*: He really blew it in 2006 at Winged Foot, when he had the lead on the 72nd tee, and needed only a par to win. Instead he double-bogeyed and lost.