Can Mickelson Take The #1 Spot In Golf?
After he won the Masters in April, I had a lot more respect for Phil Mickelson. He seemed to be continuing on a great path as a golfer and seemed ready to take a bigger spot in the world of golf, especially with Tiger on the sidelines. Now he has missed the cut at Colonial and, to me, this raises the question “Is Phil ready to take and hold the #1 ranking in the world of golf?”
This was the first time in 22 starts that Mickelson has missed a cut. And if you play golf, you know that no one can play the game at their best all the time. Everyone has spots where they struggle, even the guys and girls on the pro tours.
But here is a question. There was a ton written recently about Phil having the opportunity to gain the top spot with a victory at Colonial. And he immediately misses the cut. And let’s look at how he missed the cut at a tournament that he has won twice previously.
It was his highest round at Colonial in six years. He only hit 12 of 28 fairways and only 24 of 36 greens. And he was 17 shots behind the leader when he departed. And it wasn’t just one part of his game, he seemed to struggle in all areas.
Now Phil has proven that he can take the pressure to win a Major golf tournament. So he is used to the limelight and major golf tournament pressure. But with all that has happened in the “Tiger era” and with Tiger now vulnerable, the media pressure and attention will be as it has never been before.
The questions and focus will be so intense on who may supplant Tiger that I believe it may be a type of pressure and attention that Phil, in fact no golfer, has not faced before. And golf is most definitely a mental game.
So I don’t think that Mickelson is unable to win in the short term and possibly gain the #1 spot. I question whether he has the deep mental toughness to grab the #1 spot and keep it. Can he survive, and even thrive, under the glare of that spotlight? He may prove me wrong. But even as good a guy as he is and a great golfer, I’m not convinced he can do it.
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Comment by Francie on 2 September 2010:
Hi,
Yes is it not strange that when we are in reach of our goals its so hard to attain. Almost like a marathon runner who’s legs give way in the last meters of the race. Phil has been consistently the 2nd best player for years. I am sure he will regain his composure and take the no1 spot. I think he deserves it. Tiger will probably reclaim it again some day. At the moment Tiger is like a punch drunk boxer. He seems to have lost his greatest strength – his mental fortitude – too many things to deflect his focus.