I was never really sure why I never got on the Mickelson bandwagon. But now I think I know. It's the arrogance, and general disrespect for the game that he shows with his cocky swagger and his disregard for the course he is playing. I was there Friday and the only hole I saw him play was the 18th. He did virtually the same thing Friday afternoon: hit behind a tree, arrogantly tried to go over; and the tree told him no. You would think he might have learned, but no. He really had no business finishing tied for second. How many times did he avoid the real rough because his ball was stopped by the gallery? Then he (supposedly) puts his ball in a trash bag. Did he really find the ball himself, of did the gallery bail him out again? And then when the gallery couldn't save him, he bounced one off one of the temporary hospitality structures. Why these buildings aren't out of bounds is really hard to fathom. I guess they are so far removed from the fairways that no one ever thought it would be an issue. I'd add three strokes to Mickelson's score for the final two holes alone. I'm glad he didn't turn out to be the official winner.
ML/NJ
On January 20, 2004, Mickelson, one of the leading golfers of his generation, announced that for every birdie and eagle he scores this season on tour, the Phil and Amy Mickelson Charitable Fund will contribute $100 per birdie and $500 per eagle to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation (SOWF) under the “Birdies for the Brave” program. Source.
Before everybody climbs on the "bash Mickelson" bandwagon, consider that he is in his third year of support for providing college educations to the children of Special Ops forces killed in the line of duty.
He made some mistakes yesterday, to be sure. But, he was in the hunt all weekend. Keep in mind that his prime competitor, Tiger Woods, was watching the event on television, having failed to make the cut at a +12 on Friday.