Mickelson's time to shine at Oakland Hills??

[SubPar]

It's Mickelson's time to shine at Oakland Hills


This is like a weatherman who predicts hail in Texas in July. Sooner or later he'll be right, but that does not make him a prophet. Phil flamed out at the Scottish Open, barely made the cut at The Open and belly flopped again last week... so it's his time to shine? I doubt it.

A better bet is he won't win before Tiger returns to the game.

SubPar

[Thrash13]

Phil Mickelson has what it takes to completely lap the field this week. That being said, I don't like what I saw the last few holes at Firestone. Lefty's short game seems to be somewhat back in order, but golfers will have to hit some fairways this week in order to get their approach shots in the right portions of the greens. He will have a decent finish, but that won't be a success to him. I just can't pick him this time around.

[GaijinGolfer]

His time to shine? More like his time to choke...again! I dont know what his deal is, but it seems like time after time he doesnt stop and think what he's doing and course management costs him a shot at a win.
IMO, this weekend will be yet another Phil Mickelson, "what is he thinking?!?" moment.

[chris408]

Top 10 - Probably
Winning - Probably not
He certainly has the potential, but he just flops in the end.

[MrKadash]

He's going to have to hit fairways this week for sure. From what I've heard from people working there, it is going to play like a U.S. Open. Par will be a good (maybe even great) score.

[cwcaesar]

I like Phil and I can't help but pull for him to come out of that slump. That being said, he has not shown me anything and I don't see this as his week.

[bigoak]

Michelson has more latent talent than Tiger bit doesn't have the work ethic. If Lefty worked as hard as Tiger, he'd be #1. But he doesn't and he's not. I see Lefty trying to hit some trick shots on the back nine of the last day and losing again.

[nico002]

1. He doesn't have more talent than Tiger.

2. Phil works as hard as any golfer on his game. Does he hit the gym as hard as Tiger? No, but thats irrelevant to his golf game.

[Thrash13]

Michelson has more latent talent than Tiger bit doesn't have the work ethic. If Lefty worked as hard as Tiger, he'd be #1. But he doesn't and he's not. I see Lefty trying to hit some trick shots on the back nine of the last day and losing again.

I don't think it's as much about the work ethic as it is about the mental side of things. Don't get me wrong, Tiger probably does work about as hard as anyone else, but Phil's work ethic is pretty good as well. The mental battle between the two isn't even a contest though. Tiger is by far superior in the mental strength category.

[nico002]

I don't think it's as much about the work ethic as it is about the mental side of things. Don't get me wrong, Tiger probably does work about as hard as anyone else, but Phil's work ethic is pretty good as well. The mental battle between the two isn't even a contest though. Tiger is by far superior in the mental strength category.

Exactly. Tiger is a cold blooded killer and Phil is a mental midget.

Everyone who doesn't like Phil says that he cares too much about what people think of him. I don't know if thats true or not but it does go along with the fact that he tends to over-think everything. Whether its making sure he says all the right things, or bringing two drivers, or four wedges, or whatever.

[pjsnyc]

Anyone see his little lesson from Oakland Hills on 'Live from the PGA Championship" on the golf channel (I caught it last night)? He looked pretty sharp there - we'll see if it carries over (unless he got the cameraman to take multiple takes until he hit the shot he wanted, lol)

[SubPar]

I don't think it's as much about the work ethic as it is about the mental side of things. Don't get me wrong, Tiger probably does work about as hard as anyone else, but Phil's work ethic is pretty good as well. The mental battle between the two isn't even a contest though. Tiger is by far superior in the mental strength category.

Right on. You can see it in Phil's eyes and his body language when misses a short putt or fluffs a chip shot. You can see Phil's shoulders slump and he goes fish-eyed and gets that 'woe is me' shuffle going. You can almost hear it in his head - "on man, I am screwing this one up".

Pretty much like the top 100 tennis players, any one of these tour players could beat any of the others on a given day, but the best of the best are the ones who can sustain a mental toughness and fight to the end when it counts. Nicklaus, Palmer, Player and a few others had this back in thier day. Who else has it today? Most tour pros would be accountants or lawyers if not pro golfers. When asked what he would want to do if he were not a golfer, Tiger replied "I'd want to be a NAVY SEAL." That statement defines what sets him apart from the field. SubPar

[alf174]

Well his first nine (the back) is kind of mixed with birdies and bogies but it looks like he's clean through the last so far; -1 after 15 one shot off the lead. Its early though.

[Lange]

I'll give him maybe a top 10 finish, lets hope that his mental state of mind keeps him on the fairways this time.

[SubPar]

Ten bogeys! Hey, Phil gave us a little preview of Sunday! Missing fairways from the tee, missing greens from the fairways, bladeing chips and missing putts. He should be in fine form to choke on Sunday, if he is close enough to the lead to call it a choke.

At least he's beating Tom Lehman by a shot at this point. Come back Tiger! Please!

SubPar

[SubPar]

Another "not a factor on Sunday" finish for lefty.

Yawn,
SubPar

[sobo]

Does anyone think he spends too much time preparing. I'd love for him to go out and just start playing again and losen up on the prep and mechanics.

[bobsuruncle]

Why anyone would put Phil in the same league as Tiger is astonishing! Sure on any given day (match play) or week (over 4 days in an entire season) Phil or any number of golfers can take it to Tiger (see Rocco at the US Open). But no one can stay with Tiger over any length of time.

And now, Padraig Harrington has stamped himself as the #2 player in the world. Paddy probably has a higher chance of another major vs Phil. I think Phil's entering the twilight of his career and I don't see him having the work ethic of say Vijay Singh which would see him win as often in his 40's. Plus, amongst the crop of young guns, a few of them could really breakout eg Anthony Kim or Martin Kaymer.