Mickelson's foe

[KyGolfer1988]

I was reading the headlines on www.msn.com this morning like I usually do and came across this: http://msn.foxsports.com/golf/story/...ooled-us-again This guy is not a fan of Phil's I do not believe. He is absolutely giving him down the road. Do you guys think his opinions are justified? Just wondering..

[GaijinGolfer]

Id say his opinions are very much justified. The only one who can beat Phil is Phil himself. If he would just focus on hitting fairways and greens instead of experimenting with all these gimmicks (carry 2 drivers, 4 wedges and all those circus short game shots), IMO he would have won a lot more.
Instead, Phil insists on trying all these low percentage shots. Its great when it works, but Phil is a meltdown waiting to happen and is never going to live up to his potential that way.
I really want to like Phil, but he is a joke.

[jamo]

The article makes a lot of sense. After reading the title of this thread, though, i think Mickelson's real foe is not this author, it's himself. He has brought on all of his quirkiness and controversy surrounding his wedges. I think he massively over-thinks a lot of the game of golf. Like the author says, he has as much talent as almost everyone (save master Woods), but he seems to put a lot of pressure on himself, and he does anything it takes to get the edge. I think in this case, everything it takes might be too much. But, that's just my opinion.

[beisenhauer]

I'm going to take the opposite opinion here. Phil is Phil. He plays the game the way he wants to play it, and he's not going to change that. He's said as much himself. I think if he tried to play it any other way, it would take a great deal of joy out of the game for him. Phil isn't motivated simply to beat the other guy in the same way that Tiger is. Phil wants to win his way. Or more precisely, Phil wants to play his own game, and hopefully to do so well enough to win. And often enough, he does. Could Phil win more if he played a conventional game? Maybe, but I doubt it.

[KyGolfer1988]

Id say his opinions are very much justified. The only one who can beat Phil is Phil himself. If he would just focus on hitting fairways and greens instead of experimenting with all these gimmicks (carry 2 drivers, 4 wedges and all those circus short game shots), IMO he would have won a lot more.

The article makes a lot of sense. After reading the title of this thread, though, i think Mickelson's real foe is not this author, it's himself. He has brought on all of his quirkiness and controversy surrounding his wedges. I think he massively over-thinks a lot of the game of golf. Like the author says, he has as much talent as almost everyone (save master Woods), but he seems to put a lot of pressure on himself, and he does anything it takes to get the edge. I think in this case, everything it takes might be too much. But, that's just my opinion.

I agree with both of you. If he wouldn't "experiment" like he does then I think the talent he has would soar. But like TitleistWI said the low percentage shot really take away from his ability.

And I agree with Jamo too, the author isn't the foe it's Phil. Should've re-phrased the title. And, maybe that is Phil's way of playing the game, his way of motivation. Guess we'll never know about that since we can't get into his brain and pick it apart. Also a valid point, beisenhauer

[Three Putt]

He's won 37 times. I think he is the most exciting player on the tour hands down. That's the way he plays and he gets his juice on the shots he pulls off (remember that iron on #7 last year at Augusta!) When he's on... he's on, like last year at Augusta ( for about 12 holes) he was awesome.

I got no problem if he throws a ginger chipper in the bag.

[jamo]

Could Phil win more if he played a conventional game? Maybe, but I doubt it.

And therein lies Phil's fatal flaw. I do, however, respect him some for doing things his own way, but he needs to realize his way may not be the best way.

[uttexas]

I absolutely agree with the article. Phil has amazing talent matched with an error/flaw prone golf swing. When things are on, they are on, but the wheels can fall off quickly. This sort of hot and cold pattern can foster his unusual equipment and training practices.

[zeg]

Like the author says, he has as much talent as almost everyone (save master Woods), but he seems to put a lot of pressure on himself, and he does anything it takes to get the edge. I think in this case, everything it takes might be too much. But, that's just my opinion.

Seriously, with that kind of talent he should be ranked higher than almost everyone in the world (save master Woods).......

Somehow I think Mickelson might know his game and THE game a little better than most of his critics/detractors...

[lcfd42]

Why all of "those people" are trashing Phil is beyond me. The club is legal for everyone, not just Phil. And he has not tried to deceive anyone with anything he has done (unlike others - TW) All these people really have to cry about is the fact that someone is better than them and they don't have the game to fix that.
Boo! Hoo! - Phil just hand them a cry towel and pacifier so they will hush. Pampers are on sale at Walmart if necessary.

[KyGolfer1988]

Why all of "those people" are trashing Phil is beyond me. The club is legal for everyone, not

I don't think we're trashing Phil we're giving him the credit he deserves all we're saying is he has a more unorthodox way of playing the game than others.

[lcfd42]

Not you guys here, I'm refering to all the so called pros and announcers that are down on him. Especially that one guy, that I can't even remember his name - which tournament did he win? Oh thats right, it's the groove rule, or was it the long putter rule, that's why he hasn't won 37 times.

[KyGolfer1988]

Not you guys here, I'm refering to all the so called pros and announcers that are down on him. Especially that one guy, that I can't even remember his name - which tournament did he win?

Oh ok. I must've mis-read that. I apologize. Yeah, they're pretty hard on him. Tourney that who won? Phil? Or that other guy?

[lcfd42]

The other guy. McCarron.

[KyGolfer1988]

The other guy. McCarron.

Oh yeah, now that guy is a freakin' joke I think. Everything that someone uses and kicks his ass with he thinks it should be illegal to use. HaHa. What a character..

[O.B. Right]

I like Phil's approach to the game. It's creative and fun to watch. Some players, to me, seem too robotic and methodical out there. That's fine for them if it helps them win .. but I would rather watch Phil come in 5th than Zach Johnson win.

[lcfd42]

I heard several comments like this recently. They were refering to guys (Ricky Fowler and Tim Clark) laying up on par 5's trying to be conservative and save position (and money of course) when they should have gone for it and a chance to win a tournament.
Phil would go for it, he always does.

[Zeph]

That could also be because Phil has got a big fat bank account and already won 37 times, so he can take the chance. Winning the first time is important for Fowler and Clark, but they have to weigh the reward up against the risk of losing a great deal of money.

As I understood the article, Phil is his own foe. All his ideas and theories, it can get in the way of where focus should be, on playing good golf. Keep it simple stupid. Not meaning he should lay up all the time, but this experimenting with green speed, double driver, the groove rule. He's probably a clever guy, the FIGJAM nickname didn't happen by chance. But it can perhaps be too much sometimes, being too obsessed with all his theories, so much that he's not able to relax and focus on the rest of the game when playing.