How do you usually shoot on the back nine?
Posted on 09/05/2007 11:19:02 AM PDT by 1Old Pro
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- One day after winning the Deutsche Bank Championship and taking the lead in the FedExCup points standings, Phil Mickelson has withdrawn from this week's BMW Championship at Cog Hill Golf and Country Club in Lemont, Ill.
"This decision was not an easy one to make," said Mickelson, "and in no way is meant as disrespectful to the TOUR or 'sending a message' to anyone. I've talked for weeks about needing to find a balance between my game, my business affairs and my family, and now is the time for me to take some time off."
Mickelson has played four events in the last 30 days and has steadily improved his performance on his way back from a debilitating mid-season wrist injury. Just prior to the Deutsche Bank win, he shared seventh place at The Barclays. Only the next four players on the FedExCup points list -- Steve Stricker, Tiger Woods, K.J. Choi and Rory Sabbatini -- can possibly overtake Mickelson this week.
"I'm really looking forward to returning to THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola next week in Atlanta with the momentum I've been building and, hopefully, winning the first FedExCup," said Mickelson. "While we are disappointed that Phil will not be playing the BMW Championship, we have - for the third consecutive week - a fantastic field, and we are looking forward to another exciting chapter in the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup," said Ty Votaw, Executive Vice President of Communications and International Affairs. "One of the many storylines our fans will be following this week will be who will leave Chicago with the FedExCup points lead."
How do you usually shoot on the back nine?
They should eliminate the Presidents Cup and just focus on the Ryder Cup every two years
It worked out great this week with Tiger and Phil battling for the win. But neither needs to play this week and will save themselves for the final next week. And tournaments with such small fields - a no-cut group of thirty for the championship - often turn into run-aways. The thing that’s weird about this is the $10M prize they keep advertising - it’s an annuity that doesn’t begin to pay off for ten years!
I know all about John Daly, rooting for him over the years makes me appreciate the pain of BoSox fans always being disappointed.
Aside from Phil complaining about it all season, no. It was part of the discussion Monday night on The Golf Channel.
I usually shoot in the 70s then get to the 2nd tee.
Speaking of, what’s with this quietness thing with golf? Tennis and golf both. Other athletes compete through the roar of the crowds and golfers go ballistic over the click of a camera. Just a thought.
What I heard was that Phil asked to be excused from the Wednesday pro-am, which the tour rules say you have to play in order to play in the tournament that begins on Thursday. The only excuse is medical. He wanted to take his kids to their first day of school on Wednesday. That, combined with the amount of play he has done, and will do in the next 3 weeks, is the reason. I don’t blame him at all. Like someone else posted, the top guys usually done’t play many weeks in a row anyway. They have to play 14 tour events to keep their card, and that doesn’t count the Master, US or British Opens IIRC.
Now that makes more sense than the earlier reference to him wanting cash instead of an annuity. He could care less about the money at this point, he just wants tour wins.
Ya got me - if a baseball player can hit a 90 mph fastball with sixty thousand people screaming, why can’t a golfer hit a ball that’s not even moving?
In golf, the fans line the fairways and are not protected by nets. I think keeping you mouth shut when the golfer is getting ready to hit the ball is key to survival.
Stock car racing, right?
I think bringing his wife into this is a cheap shot.
See #28. lol
I've had this discussion with some other folks on different threads, and the prize isn't exactly an annuity. The confusion came from the Tour's bungling of the prize, which was first an annuity, then deferred compensation.
So the net result is that the $10 million is actually deferred compensation. The $10 million cash prize is placed (tax deferred) into the winner's PGA Tour retirement account, and, (depending on the player's age) he is not able to cash out until age 45. The upside for the players, obviously, is that it is tax deferred, but also that the players are allowed to invest their retirement accounts in whatever investment vehicle they see fit--unlike an ordinary 401(k) plan.
I agree that the PGA created some bad press with its payout--me being one of the detractors--but once the system was made fully clear, it could potentially be a sweet deal for the players.
There's the travel, the practice, the pro ams, the interviews, the autographs, meeting with sponsors, and acting pleasant when you have a raging headache, or the stomach flu. Plus the strain of tournament golf isn't like guzzling beer and hacking the ground done by amateur golfers. For many it's a seven day job the week they are playing a tournament.
In some ways they are coddled compared to the old days. Sam Snead said you had to be in great shape to put up with the travel, which then was mainly by car.
You're kidding, right? What could be more stressful? They don't have yteammates to carry the ball and they pay their own expenses. Their every move is critical, to the extent that a 1/8-inch twist of a wrist can cost them a million bucks, a gust of wind can do the same...the PGA players are not only athletes; they have to be Zen masters.
The article is from "PGATOUR.COM". That should be a BIG clue.
Normally, Sorry, I don't post sarcastic replies. But, I couldn't resist. ;^)
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