Comments on: Turning Up My Collar to Honor a Great Champion http://thesandtrap.com/columns/thrash_talk/the_great_debate_act_ii Golf News, Reviews, and Commentary Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:22:24 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Rudy http://thesandtrap.com/columns/thrash_talk/the_great_debate_act_ii#comment-10706 Rudy Wed, 30 Apr 2008 22:11:12 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/?p=2305#comment-10706 I feel sorry for Phil. He is rich, plays a wonderful game of golf, has a beautiful family and flys his jet home everynight when he plays on the west coast, puts his slippers on and has a cool one in Rancho Santa Fe. Truly he is a great player, talent has never been a question, as for timing you may be on to something there. But there is something else, something special that Tiger has. In describing that something "special" the late-Great Jim Murray of the Los Angeles Times once wrote about Jack Nicklaus' comtemporaries in much the same way. They were great golfers but it was their misfortune to be playing in the same era as Jack Nicklaus. But, he added, though they were talented and "great" in their own right, they were at an additional disadvantage against Jack because Jack had an "extra iron" in his bag: "Iron Will." I think it is the same "extra" advantage Tiger has over other golfers who have the "mis" fortune of living in his era. I feel sorry for Phil. He is rich, plays a wonderful game of golf, has a beautiful family and flys his jet home everynight when he plays on the west coast, puts his slippers on and has a cool one in Rancho Santa Fe. Truly he is a great player, talent has never been a question, as for timing you may be on to something there. But there is something else, something special that Tiger has. In describing that something "special" the late-Great Jim Murray of the Los Angeles Times once wrote about Jack Nicklaus' comtemporaries in much the same way. They were great golfers but it was their misfortune to be playing in the same era as Jack Nicklaus. But, he added, though they were talented and "great" in their own right, they were at an additional disadvantage against Jack because Jack had an "extra iron" in his bag: "Iron Will." I think it is the same "extra" advantage Tiger has over other golfers who have the "mis" fortune of living in his era.

]]> By: Paul180 http://thesandtrap.com/columns/thrash_talk/the_great_debate_act_ii#comment-10663 Paul180 Mon, 28 Apr 2008 08:01:45 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/?p=2305#comment-10663 Phil was one of the few contemporaries who could match Tiger in the raw talent stakes. What is frustrating is that Phil does not appear to have fancied the hard grind practiced by Woods in the physical and mental conditioning stakes. Phil was one of the few contemporaries who could match Tiger in the raw talent stakes.

What is frustrating is that Phil does not appear to have fancied the hard grind practiced by Woods in the physical and mental conditioning stakes.

]]> By: ed from ga http://thesandtrap.com/columns/thrash_talk/the_great_debate_act_ii#comment-10620 ed from ga Fri, 25 Apr 2008 17:09:32 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/?p=2305#comment-10620 A very well written piece. Unquestionably, Mickelson is one of golf's greatest talents. I'm not a big fan of his, but you have to respect his abilities and his record. He certainly merits inclusion in the Pantheon of golf greats. A very well written piece.

Unquestionably, Mickelson is one of golf's greatest talents. I'm not a big fan of his, but you have to respect his abilities and his record. He certainly merits inclusion in the Pantheon of golf greats.

]]> By: CMILZ http://thesandtrap.com/columns/thrash_talk/the_great_debate_act_ii#comment-10596 CMILZ Thu, 24 Apr 2008 22:06:22 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/?p=2305#comment-10596 Phil is one of the great ambassadors of the game. I know you can't argue with Jack, but in this case I would. Absolutely excellent article. Phil is one of the great ambassadors of the game. I know you can't argue with Jack, but in this case I would.

Absolutely excellent article.

]]> By: V-man http://thesandtrap.com/columns/thrash_talk/the_great_debate_act_ii#comment-10560 V-man Tue, 22 Apr 2008 17:56:27 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/?p=2305#comment-10560 I think the Winged foot fiasco significantly altered Phil's bid for greatness. Fresh of a PGA and Masters win, it would be hard to argue that a third straight major win would not have been something 'great' besides Tiger's 2000 in the modern era. Had he won there it possibly would have been the most serious attack on Tiger's throne ever since he broke out in 1997 and possibly the greatness he has been flirting with. Seems like Phil simply lost traction after that and has been pedalling pretty hard to get back to the same level. But for some unknown X factor he simply can't get back there. I don't think that he is a head case like Ernie at all. It would definitely make elite golf more interesting if Tiger had to keep a more careful eye on the rear view mirror. I think the Winged foot fiasco significantly altered Phil's bid for greatness. Fresh of a PGA and Masters win, it would be hard to argue that a third straight major win would not have been something 'great' besides Tiger's 2000 in the modern era.

Had he won there it possibly would have been the most serious attack on Tiger's throne ever since he broke out in 1997 and possibly the greatness he has been flirting with.

Seems like Phil simply lost traction after that and has been pedalling pretty hard to get back to the same level. But for some unknown X factor he simply can't get back there. I don't think that he is a head case like Ernie at all.

It would definitely make elite golf more interesting if Tiger had to keep a more careful eye on the rear view mirror.

]]> By: Trav http://thesandtrap.com/columns/thrash_talk/the_great_debate_act_ii#comment-10503 Trav Sat, 19 Apr 2008 02:43:42 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/?p=2305#comment-10503 When you think about it, there's only 9 spots available in the Top 10 because one of the spots is always reserved, so his overall record is even more impressive. But he's still an unappealing guy. When you think about it, there's only 9 spots available in the Top 10 because one of the spots is always reserved, so his overall record is even more impressive. But he's still an unappealing guy.

]]> By: Garrett (G-funk13) http://thesandtrap.com/columns/thrash_talk/the_great_debate_act_ii#comment-10487 Garrett (G-funk13) Fri, 18 Apr 2008 05:57:19 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/?p=2305#comment-10487 Yeah, this was a great article, and it needs to be said: Phil has put together an amazing career. I don't like him much, but MAN what a golfer! Yeah, this was a great article, and it needs to be said: Phil has put together an amazing career. I don't like him much, but MAN what a golfer!

]]> By: Dominic http://thesandtrap.com/columns/thrash_talk/the_great_debate_act_ii#comment-10477 Dominic Thu, 17 Apr 2008 14:53:20 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/?p=2305#comment-10477 I think that any player that rises to the level of pro provides all of us some valuable tips and lessons. I agree, it's too bad they get overlooked because they can provide good insight to the game if someone spends the time to learn from them. I think that any player that rises to the level of pro provides all of us some valuable tips and lessons. I agree, it's too bad they get overlooked because they can provide good insight to the game if someone spends the time to learn from them.

]]> By: wisco-kid http://thesandtrap.com/columns/thrash_talk/the_great_debate_act_ii#comment-10476 wisco-kid Thu, 17 Apr 2008 14:34:13 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/?p=2305#comment-10476 Great article. I am not a big Phil fan but you point out some valid points. It makes me think differently about Phil. It is also very refreshing not read another article on Tiger's dominance in the game. Great article. I am not a big Phil fan but you point out some valid points. It makes me think differently about Phil. It is also very refreshing not read another article on Tiger's dominance in the game.

]]> By: sbrl9014 http://thesandtrap.com/columns/thrash_talk/the_great_debate_act_ii#comment-10459 sbrl9014 Wed, 16 Apr 2008 21:26:36 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/?p=2305#comment-10459 "do you really think that of Tiger's 64 PGA Tour wins and 13 majors in the last 11 years, Phil wouldn't have won at least a few of them?" Interesting article, and well written. I wonder in how many of Tiger's victories has Phil finished second or even within the top 5 (as we know Tiger's ability to effect how others play)? Any statistics on that? "do you really think that of Tiger's 64 PGA Tour wins and 13 majors in the last 11 years, Phil wouldn't have won at least a few of them?"

Interesting article, and well written. I wonder in how many of Tiger's victories has Phil finished second or even within the top 5 (as we know Tiger's ability to effect how others play)? Any statistics on that?

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