And Mickelson's quote is just priceless. Nothing else to say, is there?
He'll be fine, of course. But he won't be much fun to be around for a while!
Saves me the trouble. He didn't hit a fairway all day, so why not just use less club off the tee and play for par, knowing that by keeping it under control, the realistic worst he could have done was bogey and go to a playoff?
I'm an idiot just for pulling my driver out of my bag.
Yep!
I'm sure Phil will be made to apologize to all of the over-sensitive idiots he offended with his comment.
Remember when Tiger said he was a "spaz" or "spazed out" on the greens in the Masters? He caught all kinds of guff over that. The MSM claimed he was dissing retarded people or whatever PC term they go by now days. I can just see the International Brotherhood of Idiots' past-president Dan Rather holding his breath until he turns blue over this.
Is there any doubt that Winged Foot (West course) is the toughest golf course in America?
Bobby Jones won the US Open there in 1929, with a score of +6.
Billy Casper won the US Open in 1959, with a score of +2.
Hale Irwin won the "Massacre at Winged Foot" US Open in 1974 with a score of +7.
And now Ogilvy wins the US Open in 2006 at +5.
Considering that I would probably shoot a 125 at an easy golf course, I shudder to think of how many shots I would take at Winged Foot. 300? Its possible.
I'd say. 2 bad swings, when he should have played conservative, cost him over $700,000. ...But that's golf for ya'.
I do.....and you are.
I even could see the mistake he was making on TV. To bad he had NO one pointing out in those last holes what he was doing with his drives. They were ALL hooking right big time, his swing sucked. I would've thought a pro like him would have at least had someone with him to point out the error he was making.
Furyk bogeyed 18 when a par would have put him in a playoff.
Harrington bogeyed the last three holes, when a par-par-par finish would have made him the outright winner. (Not to mention taking a Triple-Bogey on 18 on Saturday)
Montgomery underclubbed on 18 and double-bogeyed, when a par would have won it for him and a bogey would have put him in a playoff.
And Mickelson...... no one has exhibited such bone-headed decision-making on the 72nd hole of a major since Jean Van de Velde.
Congratulations to Geoff Ogilvy, who did what none of the above could do: parred seventeen and eighteen to win!
The Scottish Game has a huge mental part to it...
That hurt to watch. But at least he has many other majors under his belt so it didn't sting quite as much. But still, Phil--you should have played it safe. Instead of recreating Tin Cup.
"Phil Mickelson's bid for a third consecutive major ended with a shocking collapse when he bungled his way to a double bogey on the final hole to give the U.S. Open to Geoff Ogilvy"
Which club is used for a "bungle" shot?
Payne, of course, died just a few months later. Ever since, I've like to think that Payne was Phil's guardian angel on the golf course. A romantic notion, I know, but a nice one. :)
He had already pulled off miracle shot after miracle shot that day (and the week before.) He was just tempting luck again (could have worked again.)
But then a 4-wood off the tee (the hole actually plays easier if you lay back a little) or a chip out from the trees and he would have won.
When his shot out of the bunker crossed the green and ended up in the high grass, they put the camera on Ogilvey, who was dead pan. But his wife, sitting at his side, made a huge face and started laughing. Sheila needs to learn a little golf demeanor, LOL.
Monty choked too. I like the U.S. Open because on any other course Phil simply needing to par the last three holes would have been easy.
I like it when the pros aren't even sure if they can par ( or bogey) 18 to win a tournament.