Is Phil Mickelson fake?

[JaY_B]

I cant honestly believe that you think Jack Nicklaus is fake. I understand that everybody is entitled to their opinion, but I'm not even sure if thats possible to debate. Jack Nicklaus is a kind and genuine man who is himself and himself only 100% of the time.

Regardless of Jack being the most successful golfer yet (not that it is relevant) I just feel that he is fake, I can't explain why.

I don't dislike him for the record.

[Wisco-Kid]

I think his game is real, but his personality may be up for debate. I know Vijay says this about him in the April 2008 Golf Digest "Hi Phil, Bye Phil". Nobody knows him. But yet when you hear interviews with Phil he seems so sincere and real. Who knows?

[under_par]

I have a friend that knows a caddie that spent a few rounds with Mickelson and the way he treated people is terrible. On the camera he is great but off the camera he is not that nice.

[x-forged]

really? thats too bad. Ive always been a Phil fan, probably always will be, but hearing that kinda loses some respect for him if thats true.

[under_par]

really? thats too bad. Ive always been a Phil fan, probably always will be, but hearing that kinda loses some respect for him if thats true.

I too think of him as an Arnie sort of guy before I heard that and it was kinda sad to hear it. My buddy who would not say something like that if he did not hear it from the caddie. It could be that the caddie was upset at Phil for that time but who knows :)

[x-forged]

yeah, he is an Arnie sort of guy. Its always a little sad to hear when one of your favorite golfers isn't a likeable person.

By the way, your a Big Equipment Freak? Me too! , nice set of sticks

[joseywales]

I don't know if he is fake or not but I heard he was genuinely just a big ole' dork from a girl who knew him in college.

[under_par]

By the way, your a Big Equipment Freak? Me too!

Thanks!! I am always excited to try out different clubs. I like your X-forged. Played with them for about 5 rounds in a project X 6.0 and they were butter soft.

[rudygu]

I don't think he's fake, I think when it comes to the tour he's not "one of the guys". He'd rather spend his free time with his family doing whatever he wants to do than with the other guys on tour...I don't think he's ever tried to hide this. As a result he isn't very close with many of them.

Also, I think a lot of the guys on tour resent that he gets more publicity than anyone other than Tiger. Outside of the Golf Channel, the sports world pretty much ignores everyone but those two. It seems like the players can accept that Tiger is better than them, but not one of them thinks that Phil is. A few months ago in Golf Magazine, several players were asked who they thought the second best player in golf was...not one of them said Phil. I think Vijay in particular fits this. His credentials pretty much equal those of Mickelson, but he gets nowhere the amount of exposure outside of golf circles.

Personally, I really like him. He's pretty much the only current player that I believe is capable of beating Tiger when they're both on, though he seems to have trouble playing at that level consistently.

[ganjagolfer]

phil has been fooling people for a while now that he's fake and a damn good job of it. its actually quite amazing that as a fake golfer, he's won the masters and so many tournaments and money but as p t barnum said, "there's a sucker born every minute" and so many have been fooled. if you watch phil, you will see he never gets close to a fire else the plastic would start to melt

[nykfan4life]

what kind of question is this? fake? What does that mean? That his personality is different than is portrayed? I don't get it.

[Habersham Golf]

Fake or not, the whole PGA tour is a sort of Soap Opera. In that regard, each player has their own role that they play for our entertainment. If it weren't Phil playing the uber-wholesome family type with skeletons in his closet we would find someone else. A whole bunch of stuff that goes on and around the tour seems like PR and preening. Everyone seems to have their own unique/gimmicky way of differentiating themselves. Phil wants/strives/pretends to be the guy people could bring home to visit the parents. It's lame and a bit hokey, but whatever. Personally, I like Camillo Villegas' "fake-ness." It's at least funny to watch him crawl around.

That being said, I voted no for only one ridiculously and arbitrary reason; we both stand on the same side of the ball and golfers of our ilk need to stick together (and even then, he's not a proper lefty. He just golfs that way).

Dang, I've been sucked in and hoodwinked by his conniving ways. I have seen the light. I agree and change my vote. Phil is a fake lefty. What an illegitimate child.

[The Gill]

I know guys that are super people, but they're kind of aloof. Although, I wouldn't call Phil aloof. Keep in mind that there is no "reality TV". While sports isn't scripted, the stupid little TV spots during golf tournaments are.

Every time I hear the heroic music and a Costas voice-over, I just want to puke all over the TV. You can take any golfer's 4 day tourny and make it look good or bad with a little bit of editing and a choice of music.

I honestly think the media makes Phil out to be something he's not (I know this because he's portrayed differently every fricking year.)

[r7 425]

I dont know what to say with this one...I know that a lot of people speculated whether he really injured his wrist at Oakmont...I personally like Phil just because he has a lot of game and can almost stand up to Tiger. I have heard a lot of people say that Phil is not a friendly guy off the course towards people...but I dont know him personally so I cant pass judgement

[mikelz]

I dont know what to say with this one...I know that a lot of people speculated whether he really injured his wrist at Oakmont...I personally like Phil just because he has a lot of game and can almost stand up to Tiger. I have heard a lot of people say that Phil is not a friendly guy off the course towards people...but I dont know him personally so I cant pass judgement

Willie Nelson is the only famous person I can think of that does not seem to have separate public and private personas. I would not expect any pro golfer to be the same person on and off camera. I live in the Columbus area. Word around here is that Jack Nicklaus is an SOB in person. I don't care. I like Phil and Jack.

[Tim S]

Phil uses studied emotional techniques that are forced, like the perpetual puppet-grin (which, by the way, works to keep spirits light. Try it. You'll look kind of scary, but you'll feel better).

The press plays him up too much, especially his personality, but still he's a better gofler than all but a few out there. I think he's just socially awkward and stiff, so it seems put-on or fake. I don't find him likable or even warm, and certainly not the grassroots hero they try to make him out to be.

In his case, "fake" is in the eye of the beholder. We expect too much from simple types like him. He's just not cut out to be an all-round celebrity, like Tiger and Jack and Lee and others.

Also, many of the players out there "try" to entertain or exaggerate whatever they are doing, like talking to themselves. If you're good at this, it communcates emotions to the audience that you, as a player, probably aren't feeling. Tiger does this often and well.

[r7 425]

Phil uses studied emotional techniques that are forced, like the perpetual puppet-grin (which, by the way, works to keep spirits light. Try it. You'll look kind of scary, but you'll feel better).

I can see where you are coming from...I went to one of the practice rounds at Firestone to watch the WGC-Bridgestone--and i can tell you that some of the guys are complete jerks...The nicest guys ive met off course at the hotel were Bob Estes,Justin Rose, Kenny Perry,Darren Clarke..

[ElTigre]

I met Phil at Torrey Pines and he was a really nice guy.
I just wish he'd win more. Someone has to give Tiger a challenge.

But, in all truth. I don't think it'll be Phil