Where the heck is Phil?

[aquacooled]

Erik;What is Tigers excuse for skipping Mercedes?.

His wife has a bun in the oven, so they want to spend this wonderful time with there familys..

[ApplebyFan]

His wife has a bun in the oven, so they want to spend this wonderful time with there familys..

Pregnant or not, Golf is what made him his money. He cant just walk away and come back when he wants!

[BASHERBAKER69]

ApplebyFan

i think that Tiger can take a few weeks off-in any case, isn't he bored of winning alll the time

in the meantime, we'll just have to look to John Daly to make the golfing headlines!!

regards

BB69

[ipark1303]

I would reallly like to see Phil without all that fat and boobs...
The guy has won almost everything when he was young and slim (as an amateur)... I would be very curious to see what he can do with a better body fit.

[Tommy]

Pregnant or not, Golf is what made him his money. He cant just walk away and come back when he wants!

You're kidding, right?

[ezmoney5150]

Phil would not have been #1. Not statistically, anyway. In the hearts and minds of fans, sure.

I do not agree that he's content to make alot of money. I could be wrong but Phil didn't play in any of those silly season events that everybody else does to make millions. As far as why he plays the weak fields Is a question that I would like to know also. with exceptions to the majors. Which last time I checked had a competitive field.

[aquacooled]

Pregnant or not, Golf is what made him his money. He cant just walk away and come back when he wants!

Isnt everyone entitled to some downtime?? Tiger is very much a family man always has been, and now that his wife is expecting of course he is going to take some time off.. Hell if I could afford to take time off when my better half is expecting our first child you can bet your ass I would, but I cant so I dont..

Really you should be happy, it gives Appleby another chance to win the opener..

[iacas]

I do not agree that he's content to make alot of money. I could be wrong but Phil didn't play in any of those silly season events that everybody else does to make millions. As far as why he plays the weak fields Is a question that I would like to know also. with exceptions to the majors. Which last time I checked had a competitive field.

He shot 59 in a silly-season event last year, did he not? Except for the majors (of which there are only four, and of which he's only ever won three), Phil's schedule is filled with weak events. The Bellsouth, The International... the events in the desert. Weak fields.

Again, some statistical analysis will be coming soon. My preliminary reports back up the assertion. And the silly season events really aren't all that rich. With guys winning $1M for a PGA Tour win and tens of millions in ads, endorsements, etc. - a $500k silly season event isn't all that it used to be.

[ezmoney5150]

He shot 59 in a silly-season event last year, did he not? Except for the majors (of which there are only four, and of which he's only ever won three), Phil's schedule is filled with weak events. The Bellsouth, The International... the events in the desert. Weak fields.

The 59 was shot in 2004 and I could be wrong but I don't think he played in any silly season events in 2005 so his being a greed monger assertion doesn't hold water. Besides the silly season is filled with weak fields. Skins Game being one of them. I think Phil can beat Fred Funk, John Daly, etc. The Bellsouth is right before the Masters.....So you're going to hold that against him for playing in a competitive field before a major? Not to mention if he didn't play the Bellsouth he would have been criticized for not defending his title. It seems to me that Phil can do no right on this board. He is never gonna be Tiger so maybe he should retire?

[iacas]

The 59 was shot in 2004 and I could be wrong but I don't think he played in any silly season events in 2005 so his being a greed monger assertion doesn't hold water.

Don't put words in my mouth.

The Bellsouth is right before the Masters.....So you're going to hold that against him for playing in a competitive field before a major? Not to mention if he didn't play the Bellsouth he would have been criticized for not defending his title.

There are only four events the week before a major. Phil routinely plays more than four weak-field events per year.

It seems to me that Phil can do no right on this board. He is never gonna be Tiger so maybe he should retire?

I just like people who are honest, both with themselves and others. Phil has talked for years about how he wants to take on Tiger, how he relishes the chances to do it. Yet everyone knows Tiger's schedule, and here we have Phil racking up wins in events in which he knows Tiger isn't playing in and doing rather poorly when he plays in the same field as Tiger (including majors, if of course your scale includes Tiger - otherwise, 3 majors is pretty damn good).

Basically, I don't like that Phil talks out of both sides of his mouth. I think he deserves to be ranked second or third in the world - I take nothing away from him for that. But I do dislike hearing "I want to compete against Tiger and the other top players more often." I do dislike seeing the complete apathy Phil displayed in the past TWO Ryder Cups, switching equipment immediately before one of them. I do dislike the wholesome image he puts out while - based on the words of his peers - being quite the opposite when the public isn't around. Tiger has many flaws, too, this topic isn't "Where the heck is Tiger?" Tiger routinely plays in the events with the stiffest fields and DOES WELL. His record in the WGC events speaks to that. Tiger, though he rarely says much of substance at all, does say that he relishes playing against - and beating - the best. Much like Phil says. Yet Tiger goes and proves it. I've yet to see the same from Phil. He talks the talk, but doesn't walk the walk, in my opinion. And yeah, I'd have a whole lot less of a problem with him if he dropped the act and just said "I play in the events I like. I like making birdies, I like beating whoever is in the field, I like playing golf."

[ApplebyFan]

Don't put words in my mouth.

It's got a bit heated since the last time I checked this thread!

[BASHERBAKER69]

hi Iacas, Applebyfan

Phil has the game to take on Tiger no doubt about that whatsoever- in fact, id say that he is probably the only person along with Vijay Singh that have the tools to take TW on the golf course.

But like Iacas, if my interpretation is correct, big Phil wants his cake and to eat it (Engllish expression) ie- he wants the best of both worlds- he wants
...he wants to take on Tiger and to win tournaments- i don't think that that is possible too often-8 times out of 10 he will come second to TW even with TWs c game. So therefore, he sometimes chooses to play lesser events when Tiger isn't playing and invariably wins them. I will be so interested to see what sort of shape Phils body and game will be in when the season gets started proper at the Sony in 2 weeks time.

As said before on this site that Phil isn't all that he seems. It is well known in the PGA circle of friends that the main reason for Phil ditching Titleist before the most recent Ryder Cup is that an offer was put on the table by Callaway to pay off his $10mn gambling debts..he is a drinker and a womaniser too!!

discuss

bb69

[RX Phoenix]

It's easy to criticise Phil and it may be that he is down on himself due to the US Open, but . . . if I saw him I'd say that he has no reason to be down at all and I hope he comes out and plays great in 2007.

The way I see it, he called him self an idiot, but why? The fact is that NO ONE wanted a tie and to play 18 on Monday. I can't fault a guy for playing to win in that situation, the network, the players, the press, the viewers, no one wanted a tie so Phil tried to win it and I respect him for that.. He could have played for a tie but he did the right thing and went for the win.

His driver hadn't worked all round, his game was a mess, he had no business even being in the lead, but in going for the WIN he had to hit driver there, laying back was not an option on that hole unless you are playing for bogie.

So of course he sliced it and that set up a desparate second still trying to win the tournament and that hit the tree, unlucky, and the rest is history. It would be a shame if he let that hurt his confidence as it seems it has. I just played a round with a member of the K Club in Ireland who was there at the Ryder Cup and he said that Phil just looked like he didn't care at all and didn't want to be there. It would seem as if he did get down on himself, but without reason. You play to win and sometimes you don't win, that's golf, get over it and come back and win this year.

[ezmoney5150]

Basically, I don't like that Phil talks out of both sides of his mouth. I think he deserves to be ranked second or third in the world - I take nothing away from him for that. But I do dislike hearing "I want to compete against Tiger and the other top players more often." I do dislike seeing the complete apathy Phil displayed in the past TWO Ryder Cups, switching equipment immediately before one of them. I do dislike the wholesome image he puts out while - based on the words of his peers - being quite the opposite when the public isn't around.

I do aggree with you in terms of Phil doing bone headed things like switching to Callaway before the Ryder Cup, but the Ryder Cup apathy is an American thing. Tiger didn't exactly play lights out golf. Tiger and Furyk in two ball should be outlawed. There's a lot of Blame to go around. It seemed like Zack Johnson and JJ Henry were the ones with drive.

[iacas]

I do aggree with you in terms of Phil doing bone headed things like switching to Callaway before the Ryder Cup, but the Ryder Cup apathy is an American thing. Tiger didn't exactly play lights out golf.

He had a winning record in 2006, has a winning record in singles, and plays a heckuva lot better in the Ryder Cup than Phil. Where did the two rank in terms of points earnings for the U.S. this past year?

Tiger and Furyk in two ball should be outlawed. There's a lot of Blame to go around. It seemed like Zack Johnson and JJ Henry were the ones with drive.

Tiger: 3 points (3-2), 0.600 winning percentage

Johnson: 1.5 points (1-2-1), 0.375 winning percentage Henry: 1.5 points (0-0-3), 0.500 winning percentage 3-2 isn't GREAT, but remember the U.S. only won 9.5 points, and Tiger got almost a third of them.

[ezmoney5150]

He had a winning record in 2006, has a winning record in singles, and plays a heckuva lot better in the Ryder Cup than Phil. Where did the two rank in terms of points earnings for the U.S. this past year?

Everybody gets on the slam Phil bandwagon and praise Tiger bandwagon, but

who had the most momentum going into the Ryder Cup? And was claiming to be the leader of this Ryder Cup team and going to lead the U.S. to a win. Tiger won the Brigestone Inv, PGA Championship, The Deutsch Bank. Phil didn't even play between the PGA and Ryder Cup, not that I'm defending that moronic move. Tiger missed alot of putts that he would have made in medal play. Apathy probably kept him from being 5-0. Alot of blame to go around.

[iacas]

Everybody gets on the slam Phil bandwagon and praise Tiger bandwagon, but

Tiger played the best. Of course he said they were going to win - that's all he knows.

C'mon, man, Tiger's no without flaw, but comparing him in last year's Ryder Cup to anyone else - including ol Lefty - is just silly. If that's where your argument has gone, ouch...

[ezmoney5150]

Tiger played the best. Of course he said they were going to win - that's all he knows.

That's what I wanted to hear you say. In my opinion Tiger is not Divine. Phil is hardly anywhere close to divine. I Think these two have alot of talent between them. And most of the time on this board I hear Tiger worshippers and Phil slammers, when in reality the both of them are great and if Phil gets his act together you could see a Jack and Arnie rivalry, although not as friendly.