Are you a Phil Guy or a Tiger Guy?

XBucky · August 23, 2006

Rick Reilly writer for SI recently did a story asking if you're a Phil Guy (PG) or a Tiger Guy (TG). He makes the argument that you can't be both. While I definitely root more for Phil I love watching Tiger play and after Phil was out of the PGA I wanted to see Tiger get to -20. Reilly explains that if you like Phil than you hate Tiger, I don't think that’s the case for most people. It’s not like choosing between the Yankees and Red Sox. Just wondering what other people thought. Sorry I couldn't find a link to the article without signing up for SI.

**JonnyRockets** · August 23, 2006

I'm both as well -

I'm inclined to click Tiger - he's an amazing athlete - why did I click Phil?? I don't know - Fat, Lefty, Family Man . . . who knows. I clicked Phil, and I think maybe I shouldve clicked Tiger. But then if I did that, I'd think I should click Phil. . . .

I'm both.

I'm a Tiger Vs. Phil Guy.

**sole wolf** · August 23, 2006

Phil seems to fake for me to like him, that and I can't stand the grin.

**SuaSponteMn** · August 23, 2006

I'm a Phil guy, partly because I'm left-handed but mostly because I love watching some of the shots he makes (or goes up in flames attempting). I'm not a big Tiger fan, I don't really enjoy complete domination of any sport, in my mind it makes things boring. Although, I will admit that I cheered for Tiger in the British Open, I wanted to see him turn it around after the US Open debacle. But watching him 2 iron after 2 iron off the tee was like listening to fingernails on a chalkboard. Phil plays more like me, he hits driver more frequently and he's usually recovering from some sort of errant shot, to me that's more entertaining to watch.

I know there are a ton of Tiger fans that will disagree vehemently with the last couple of statements I made...

**Rusty2228** · August 23, 2006

I absolutely abhor Phil Mickelson. I think he is a fake and a fraud. I can't bring myself to root for someone who doesn't really want to win, and how else could you explain his strategy before he won a major, and to somepart what is going on now.

My opinion is, I want to root for and admire people that AREN'T like me. I want to be awed by what I am watching. I don't want to watch an overweight man with breasts try to hit a four wood from the hay, if I did I could go to my local muni.

Here is a quote from a Malcolm Gladwell (author of some great books) about Mickelson...

The (short) answer is that it's really risky to work hard, because then if you fail you can no longer say that you failed because you didn't work hard. It's a form of self-protection. I swear that's why Mickelson has that almost absurdly calm demeanor. If he loses, he can always say: Well, I could have practiced more, and maybe next year I will and I'll win then. When Tiger loses, what does he tell himself? He worked as hard as he possibly could. He prepared like no one else in the game and he still lost. That has to be devastating, and dealing with that kind of conclusion takes a very special and rare kind of resilience. Most of the psychological research on this is focused on why some kids don't study for tests -- which is a much more serious version of the same problem. If you get drunk the night before an exam instead of studying and you fail, then the problem is that you got drunk. If you do study and you fail, the problem is that you're stupid -- and stupid, for a student, is a death sentence. The point is that it is far more psychologically dangerous and difficult to prepare for a task than not to prepare. People think that Tiger is tougher than Mickelson because he works harder. Wrong: Tiger is tougher than Mickelson and because of that he works harder.

I think that this sums up my feelings about why I root for Tiger.

**SuaSponteMn** · August 23, 2006

I absolutely

I guess I don't know either of them well enough to feel this passionate about the situation, nor do I dislike either of them to the point of using a thesaurus...

I don't want to watch an overweight man with breasts try to hit a four wood from the hay, if I did I could go to my local muni.

Seems to me you really spent a lot more time summing up why you

dislike Phil, certainly moreso than why you like Tiger... Although I imagine I've been called on the same thing when talking about USC, Purdue, Boston College, Michigan State, Michigan... I suppose I could go on and on there...

**Madriver** · August 23, 2006

Tiger guy..

While Tiger seemed very cocky when he joined the tour his credentials backed him up even before he had sniffed the winners circle on the PGA. Winning (3) amateurs in row was enough to validate his bravado or appearance there of. I remember when Tiger was all any reporter would talk about (still) anyway…Phil got annoyed and complained at a press conference that (paraphrasing) “hey I’m young and I’ve won a few tournaments…why don’t you ask questions about how I influence the game?” (strongly paraphrased but in context). This pretty much sums up Phil then and now….”hey …I’m good too…let me tell you about it”. While Tigers “A Game” comment or any comment about his game is pretty much matter of fact and doesn’t need a publicist to extol his accomplishments.

**GoingfortheGreen** · August 23, 2006

Take a guess

wils0646 · August 23, 2006

I absolutely abhor Phil Mickelson. I think he is a fake and a fraud. I can't bring myself to root for someone who doesn't really want to win, and how else could you explain his strategy before he won a major, and to somepart what is going on now.

Wasn't it Phil who played and studied Winged Foot for two months in preparation for the Open? I hate it when people say he's not practicing enough.

http://www.1010wins.com/pages/46474....ntentId=157758

Woods has gone about his preparations differently from Mickelson. He played one practice round at Winged Foot two weeks ago and 36 holes since arriving this week, nine holes Monday afternoon, 18 holes Tuesday, the back nine Wednesday morning. Mickelson has played so much that he might be an honorary member at Winged Foot. There have been Mickelson sightings in Westchester County the last two months, restaurants, coffee shops, you name it, as he pops in and out to study Winged Foot, to figure out where he can and cannot afford to miss a shot, always looking for an edge. ... Mickelson estimates he has been to Winged Foot nine or 10 times since the Masters _ he even came over Sunday morning before his final round at the Barclays Classic _ which is so different from everyone else, but also intriguing to his peers. "He's obviously taking it quite seriously,'' Ernie Els said. ``There's a lot going on out there. You're guessing where they're going to put the flags, so you hit putts everywhere. You try to hit every shot that you think you might need on each and every hole. And to do that in a practice round is tough. To do it away from the tournament ... that's real preparation.'' That has been Mickelson's M.O at the majors for the better part of two years. He spends up to eight hours on one practice round well in advance of the tournament, sticking a dozen tees in the greens to aim at potential hole locations, working his away around the green to place various shots out of the rough and sand. He has put so much thought into the majors that he carried two drivers at the Masters, and has added an extra wedge for Winged Foot. Now he has to make it pay off.

***iacas*** · August 23, 2006

Phil

Ha ha, thanks, sole wolf. Appreciated.

I too voted "Tiger Guy" because Phil seems too fake, too... abnormal. Too aloof, really, and he seems to try too hard at the wrong things. I don't dislike Phil, and I'm far from hating him. I'm just indifferent towards him. And while I'm not 100% Tiger's Biggest supporter (see my current "user title" beneath my name), I do appreciate excellence, and Tiger consistently brings it more than any other athlete I've ever seen play their sport(s).

**ragontona** · August 23, 2006

I like Tiger. Not so much because I dislike P-Mick, but because I like Tiger more.

Phil's style is fun to watch. I imagine it was like watching Palmer in his prime. Swashbuckling, going for hero shots, imaginative escapes, strings of birdies, the occasional boneheaded double bogey -- I could see myself rallying around a guy like that.

But when I'm playing well, I try to "Tiger" my way around the course. Smart, accurate, go for the big one when it presents itself, put myself into position to make par at worst -- that's my idea of a perfect round. Never mind that he can pop a 3-iron 250 yards to ten feet; I was more impressed with the 8-iron from the bunker 55 yards out.

Phil's going to go down as one of the all-timers. I can see him finishing with five, six, maybe even seven majors. That puts him squarely in the Faldo, Trevino, Palmer mix. Not bad company.

But Tiger? That's a whole different ballgame. We're looking at over 20 total, possibly pushing 30. I can't not get behind a guy like that.

Plus, yeah, FIGJAM's smile is kinda skeevy.

**Xt1ncT** · August 24, 2006

Tiger

All the way.

It's funny really, I really wanted Phil to sink that putt on the 18th at Augusta for his first major. But since then my dislike of him has grown and grown. I'm getting to the point where I can't stand him, which is a bit strange.

Tiger on the other hand is totally different. I want him to win everything he enters. I know he won't, he'll only win 25%...!!!! WHen he is as focussed as he has been for the last 3 tournaments he's a joy to watch. Not only his wood/iron play, but his putting is like amazing. I'd love to know how putts per GIR stats..!!!!

**allin** · August 24, 2006

I don't think I am really either but I said Tiger. You have to admire anyone who has seemingly left no stone unturned in their drive to be the best.

**Lumpy_22** · August 24, 2006

I going to lean towards Tiger. significantly. I like Philly too, as I appreciate ability, but if I had a choice of whom to watch in a tournament, Tiger would be the guy...

**Rusty2228** · August 24, 2006

I guess I don't know either of them well enough to feel this passionate about the situation, nor do I dislike either of them to the point of using a thesaurus...

You're right, my treatise was more of an indictment of Phil than a show of support for Tiger. (I am just doing my part to enhance the lexicon of TST) But in it was pieces on why I like Tiger too. In essence I like watching the best at their best. I like seeing a six iron, out of a bunker, across water going 200+ yards...Because even if I had the physical ability, I don't think I could pull that shot off. I like Tiger because he is an athelete, not just a golfer with an immense amount of skill. I like Tiger because it seems like it tears him up when he loses, and he isn't happy with a second place check and x hundreds of thousands that come with it and the ability to say 'gee, I played well but didn't win.' I like Tiger because he seems about as real as someone in his situation can be. And consequently I hate Phil for not being like Tiger.

**Finn07** · August 24, 2006

Tiger guy all the way. When Phil falls a few shots back on a Sunday the man looks defeated. Tiger on the other hand will come in with three straight birdies and then go from there. Tigers competitiveness is far superior to Phil. Gotta love watching the guys grind it out on Sunday. Another good one to watch is Dimarco. The man never gives up.

MickelsonFlop · August 24, 2006

Huge Phil Fan for almost 10 years now. I know a lot of people hate his guts, but for some reason, the guy just seems to be the one I always root for.

**Rusty2228** · August 24, 2006

Wasn't it Phil who played and studied Winged Foot for two months in preparation for the Open? I hate it when people say he's not practicing enough.

The quote that was referenced was right after the grand slam in hawaiiof golf where Mickelson showed up not having played for a long period of time. The point being how can you be the best at what you do when you don't love it enough to play for nine weeks or so? Maybe the answer is that he loves his family more, which is fine (and is the case for me and my job) but he will never be a Nicklaus, Tiger, Gretzky, Jordan type athelete.

I think it is admirable that he has changed his practice routine for the majors...all though I have to admit I take some perverse pleasure in having all of the preparation be for naught.

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Are you a Phil Guy or a Tiger Guy?

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