Mickelson admits Woods is better

[aquacooled]

“The reality is, even if I play at the top of my game for the rest of my career and achieve my goals, I still won’t get to where Tiger is right now,” wrote Phil Mickelson in this month’s issue of ESPN the Magazine.

[Madriver]

I’m glad to see Phil get away from competing with Tiger. When Tiger first came out on the pro tour, Phil was at a press conference after a round and the questions were pertaining to Tiger and not him. He got pissed and started complaining that (paraphrasing) “hey I’m young too and I’ve won on this tour, look at me!” When I heard him it really turned me off. Phil needs to compete with Phil, I wish him the best and I hope he can exorcise his demons.

[Billbill13]

At least we know that Phil is not a complete idiot...he got one thing right!

[Cleveland Gunmetal]

I read that article. I thought it was a good article but what is Phil going to say? If he says he's better or as good as Tiger he's going to look like a moron. I suppose he could have not addressed it at all but I think it was a good thing that he did. Make no mistake though, if you read the article he wants to beat Tiger badly (in tournaments) and I think that is great for golf.

[Madriver]

I read that article. I thought it was a good article but what is Phil going to say? If he says he's better or as good as Tiger he's going to look like a moron. I suppose he could have not addressed it at all but I think it was a good thing that he did. Make no mistake though, if you read the article he wants to beat Tiger badly (in tournaments) and I think that is great for golf.

....if Phil continues to stalk Tiger he will fail. Golf is a different game for Tiger, he does go for the kill everytime. Phil and the rest of the golfing world are still in a "survival mode" mentality. A dangerous game to be played against killers....

[getinthehole]

At least we know that Phil is not a complete idiot...he got one thing right!

Haha, glad to see Mickelson facing the facts and realising he can't focus on beating Tiger he should try for world #2, and see if he beats Tiger in any events whilst doing that.

[Cleveland Gunmetal]

....if Phil continues to stalk Tiger he will fail. Golf is a different game for Tiger, he does go for the kill everytime. Phil and the rest of the golfing world are still in a "survival mode" mentality. A dangerous game to be played against killers....

Overall, yeah I agree. Mickelson, Furyk, Els, Vijay, Garcia, Stenson, Scott, etc etc can all battle it out for #2 in the world. Tiger's in a league by himself. However, Mickelson among others are certainly capable of beating Tiger in any given event. In this article Mickeson refers to winning the Masters last year with Tiger in contention a year after he had to put the jacket on Tiger. That made it that much sweeter. That is what I think is good for golf. IF you shoot to be "better" or win more tournaments than Tiger you will be dead.

[Billbill13]

True anybody can beat anyone on any given day, but to win consistently or finish in the Top 5 or 10 week after week is what will make you number one. Phil, Vijay, Ernie, Adam Scott, etc... all playing to be number two, just short of a major injury or accident I don't see Mr. Woods stepping down from the #1 spot anytime soon. He has porven season after season that he can turn it on when ever he wants...Could be another year of the "Tiger Slam" or even the Grand Slam.

[Lumpy_22]

Every player on the tour is capable of winning every week. Is Tiger exceptional.... I would say yes, Is he above the standard of the other players in the field, more than likely, but I know I've found, I'm at my best when I'm not 'competing' or 'worrying' about another player. Concentrate on what your doing out there, and if Phil does this, I believe that he will win more majors..

Phil still neds improvement on his decision making, and needs to stop putting himself in truly difficult positions....

But IMHO, Phil isn't even clearly the second best out there... Don't get me wrong, I love watching Phil when he's on, believe me, but there is definateley more separation between Tiger and anyone, than say Phil and the next best player...

But best of all, we all love it when Phil and Tiger are on their games.. It's truly magically to watch them do their thing, just the same as I like watching Chris Dimarco, Ernie Els, and John Daly when their on.... Just wish John would get his crap together.....

It takes a confident man to admit someones better, but It takes a better man to prove himself wrong.....

Waiting for Thursday.....

[Thrash13]

The world's best should still be playing to be #1, not #2. That's what Vijay Singh decided to do a couple years back, and even though it took him awhile, he finally knocked Tiger out of the #1 spot. It's going to take something craz like that, but it can happen. I'm not saying it will for a couple years, but it will eventually.

I completely disagree about playing to be #2. That's just unacceptable for professional athletes, and any pro that thinks that way is in the wrong profession.

[muskegman]

I've got no criticism for Phil in this regard. Admitting Tiger is better than everyone else is akin to admitting oxygen is necessary for life. Go to the World Golf Rankings and see for yourself. Check out his major wins, career wins, winning percentage, and average score. Watch his determination, focus, and results and decide for yourself if he's better.

Sure, every other professional will strive to win, they won't "give up," they won't back down, they'll seek to be Tom Watson to Jack Nicklaus but they also shouldn't ignore the facts. Tiger is good and to give him credit shows any player has chosen not to bury his head in the sand.

I don't think admitting Tiger is better implies Phil (or any other player) should be any less determined to beat his arse. They certainly shouldn't add fuel to the fire by saying Tiger is a weekend hack who mistakenly wins every tournament he enters.

Jeff's thoughts: worth exactly what you paid for it.

[Madriver]

The world's best should still be playing to be #1, not #2. That's what Vijay Singh decided to do a couple years back, and even though it took him awhile, he finally knocked Tiger out of the #1 spot. It's going to take something craz like that, but it

...until someone on tour besides Tiger has the mentality of say a Roger Clemons or John Smoltz, I don't think todays tour players can do anything but play for #2. Vjay crept into the #1 spot during one of Tigers rebuilding programs. Phil will do well to battle Phil, not Tiger and not to be #1. I see no one on tour that has shown a Nolan Ryan stare or bean ball to challange for the #1 spot. I have to use baseball analogies because besides Tiger, no one on tour has this mentality.

[iacas]

I completely disagree about playing to be #2. That's just unacceptable for professional athletes, and any pro that thinks that way is in the wrong profession.

Vijay got to #1 with a once-in-a-lifetime season that

also just happened to coincide with Tiger's most recent swing change. Saying someone is better than you doesn't mean you're playing for #2. Phil isn't going into the Masters thinking "If I can finish right behind Tiger, I'll be happy." It's a completely different thing, so I'll agree with Jeff there and disagree with you, Cody, on that. Any golfer's goal - any athlete's goal - should be to be as good as they can be. If Phil somehow finds another level above Tiger, that won't make his statement that Tiger is better (right now) any less valid. It'll just make it outdated. If Phil is working as hard as he can at being as good as he can, he meets all of my criteria. I think you've misconstrued what he's said, Cody.

[Billbill13]

I agree that no pro athlete should ever play to be #2 but sometimes there has to be a realization that the guy in the #1 spot is unstoppable. And your right eventaully Tiger will fall from the number one spot but probably not for quite sometime, as they say all goods things must come to an end!

The thing with Tiger though is if he reitred today would he be known for one of the greatest careers in golf with the # of majors and wins he has had or would he be known as the guy that had so much potential but did not live up to it?

[Madriver]

I agree that no pro athlete should ever play to be #2 but sometimes there has to be a realization that the guy in the #1 spot is unstoppable. And your right eventaully Tiger will fall from the number one spot but probably not for quite sometime, as they say all goods things must come to an end!

....uhhh....name me another player that even comes close to his current record? If he retired today he would be one of the greatest of all time...if not the greatest.

[Billbill13]

....uhhh....name me another player that even comes close to his current record? If he retired today he would be one of the greatest of all time...if not the greatest.

I'm not arguing by any means...I agree. I listen to a lot of sports talk and sports talk radio. You know how the Jim Rome's and Tony Kornhieser types are...they would say he had the greatest career but what could he have accomplished if he kept going. Samething if he kept on playing and never won again people wouldn't say that he had a great career it would be all about how Tiger gave up.

I am probably one of the biggest Tiger supporters out there but you have to wonder if something happens and he doesn't go on to have the career that people expect him to have what will the general public think of him. Not the hard core golfers who already respect and admire what he has accomplished but the everyday Joe.

[Madriver]

I'm not arguing by any means...I agree. I listen to a lot of sports talk and sports talk radio. You know how the Jim Rome's and Tony Kornhieser types are...they would say he had the greatest career but what could he have accomplished if he kept going. Samething if he kept on playing and never won again people wouldn't say that he had a great career it would be all about how Tiger gave up.

I think if Tiger retired today most all the world would agree that he is and forever will be one of the greatest to ever play the game. He may be the most recognized person in the world. Go Tiger!

[ABPositive]

It's safe to say that all the world-class players are extremely competitive athletes. You don't get to that level if you are not competitive, if you do not live for competition. Listen to the words of Arnie and Jack... What will they miss? Eagles and birdies? No, simply the competition.

When Mickelson says that in the long run he can't beat Tiger's record, he is not giving up. He will still play hist best, compete and try to beat Tiger in the next event. He is just drawing a lucid picture on how their lifetime achievement will compare.