Phil's Post-Round Interruption @ the PGA

[iacas]

Here's a great example of why I don't particularly care for Phil Mickelson.

After the second round of the PGA - a round in which he was dusted by Tiger (I consider a three-shot difference as being dusted in a major) - Tiger was being interviewed on camera somewhere outside, probably near the scoring tent. Phil comes over and holds an umbrella over Tiger, shoving himself (Phil) into the picture. It wasn't really raining where they were... Then Phil tilts the umbrella down, covering himself, the interviewer, and Tiger's heads with the Callaway Golf logo (on the umbrella).

The whole affair lasted about five seconds, but it was classless and rude. Tiger would never do such a thing to interrupt someone's interview. Phil, "good ol' fun-lovin' American boy Phil" did.

I wasn't looking for a reason to crank up my dislike for Phil, but every time I start to think that maybe I've overreacted and that I should like the guy, he pulls some lame stunt like this.

[Baynative]

PGA Tour.com says it this way:

<<< "I wanted to make something coming in and to catch that last putt was nice" Woods said.

Mickelson, who had bogeyed three of the four previous holes, followed right on top of Woods with a twelve footer for birdie. He topped Woods again about five minutes later, holding an umbrella over Tiger head while he conducted an interview with TNTs Bill Kratzert and then turning the umbrella to block him from the camera briefly. The two laughed for what may have been the first time all day. >>>

[ragontona]

Yeah, I saw this too. I don't want to make a big deal of it, and I think it was Phil in a lame attempt to dispel any "bad blood" rumors, but it really was a miscalculated attempt. It would've been one thing if we knew that these guys were friends -- for example, if it was Mark O'Meara or John Cook (a couple of known "Tiger Friends"). Then it would've come across as good natured "guys being guys."

But with the backstory of the sneaky jabs they take at each other, and the whole "Tiger plays with inferior equipment" history, and Phil's semi-controversial switch to Callaway -- it just seemed awkward and unnecessary. Going out of his way to sneak the Callaway logo into the frame seemed forced, and just plain old weird.

The funniest thing to me was Tiger's reaction. I wouldn't say that they "shared a laugh." To me, it looked like Tiger's laugh was more along the lines of, "Ha, ha, ha... I can't believe this motherf*#@er's bustin' in like this."

[iacas]

The funniest thing to me was Tiger's reaction. I wouldn't say that they "shared a laugh." To me, it looked like Tiger's laugh was more along the lines of, "Ha, ha, ha... I can't

Yeah, the only way that was a "happy" laugh was if Tiger was thinking "Ha ha ha, now everyone will see what an ass Phil is! This is great!"

Phil really ruined it all by tilting the umbrella, blocking Tiger from the camera, and blatantly trying to show the Callaway logo. Had he just walked over and held the umbrella, I'd have still thought it was a jackass thing to do, but the logo deal sealed the deal.

[Baynative]

To me, it looked like Tiger's laugh was more along the lines of, "Ha, ha, ha... I can't

That's a good point. It's hard to read apersons thoughts if you don't know them.

But, I think Phil's "inferior equipment" jab was nothing more than locker room banter and it wouldn't even be noticed in most sports. It was in the time that the media (and probably the PGA) was trying to pump up their 'rivalry' and it may well have come from an agent seeking some print. I have one play on the course that really sticks in my mind from yesterday. Phil missed a fairway (14 or 15, I think) and then didn't get the ball back in play. He was behind trees and bunkers right of the green in two and evidently wanting to play one of his remarkable shots. Maybe discretion got the better of him ...maybe, Bones reminded him of Winged Foot -but, he played a safe shot to the far side of the green and then made a somewhat licky 50 footer to save par. That's pretty good golf. I have a friend who goes for broke on every shot and fonds disaster often. I keep trying to tell him how many good things can happen if he'd just get the the ball somewhere on the green.

[rmgators]

It was just awkward as hell, what was he thinking?

[Mennon]

Could someone put it up on youtube? I'd love to see it.

[NCGolfer]

The funniest thing to me was Tiger's reaction. I wouldn't say that they "shared a laugh." To me, it looked like Tiger's laugh was more along the lines of, "Ha, ha, ha... I can't

That's

exactly what I thought. I think if Tiger wasn't playing as well he might have broken off his foot in Lefty's 'cash & prizes' (thank you Dane Cook ).

[Thrash13]

I don't think it was classless and rude at all. It was just awkward.

Phil was trying to display a little humor, but it came across as being awkward. The whole situation gave me a weird feeling. It wasn't classless though. That's just a little anti-Lefty talk Erik.

[iacas]

I don't think it was classless and rude at all. It was just awkward.

Cody, I agree that it was "awkward." But it was only awkward until Phil decided to schill for Callaway by blocking the camera's view of everyone with his umbrella. That's when it became "classless and rude" in my opinion.

[NCGolfer]

I don't think it was classless and rude at all. It was just awkward.

You'll have to agree that it was

very awkward and very strange. Phil isn't known as a joker like Fuzzy or Billy Andrade. You might expect something like that from them.

Phil was trying to display a little humor, but it came across as being awkward. The whole situation gave me a weird feeling. It wasn't classless though. That's just a little anti-Lefty talk Erik.

I thought it was just flat out dumb. The thing that made it really 'bad' was the tipping of the umbrella to show the Callaway logo in front of Tiger. Sure, he might have done it as a joke, but Phil's not that kind of guy. Why do it then? Dumb, dumb, dumb...it just leaves everything open to interpretation.

[Finn07]

I didnt get to see it, would there be a clip of it somewhere?

[iacas]

I didnt get to see it, would there be a clip of it somewhere?

I haven't seen one yet, and I don't think something like this is destined to be posted. It happened about like a few people have said...