Phil Mickelson missing US open for HS Graduation

[StefanUrkel]

Wait. College graduation. Wait. High school?  Give me a break. You have to be breathing to pass high school. The daughter should say no thanks

[David in FL]

I guess that tells us where his priorities lie.

Good for him!  

[dennyjones]

It' not like he hasn't played in an US Open or never will again.   You only have one chance to see this daughter graduate.   Golf and making $$ is great but family first!

[JonMA1]

3 minutes ago, dennyjones said:

It' not like he hasn't played in an US Open or never will again.   You only have one chance to see this daughter graduate.   Golf and making $$ is great but family first!

I agree with the OP. (Stupid kids and their petty accomplishments getting in the way of golf!!) 

[Aguirre]

At both my high school and college graduations, my parents were a hindrance. They were taking time away from me hanging with my friends and girlfriends. I'm glad they came, but if my dad was going to play in the US Open, I'd have told him to stay the **** away and play.

[JonMA1]

9 minutes ago, Aguirre said:

At both my high school and college graduations, my parents were a hindrance. They were taking time away from me hanging with my friends and girlfriends. I'm glad they came, but if my dad was going to play in the US Open, I'd have told him to stay the **** away and play.

A lot of kids might feel that way, but as a parent there's no f'ing way I'd miss that for my job. (I was being sarcastic in my post above).

[Buckeyebowman]

46 minutes ago, dennyjones said:

It' not like he hasn't played in an US Open or never will again.   You only have one chance to see this daughter graduate.   Golf and making $$ is great but family first!

You read my mind, dj. Family comes first!

[Aguirre]

I would. Sports are a different form of profession, and even fewer would force people to work on Saturday. Your sacrifice about whatever mundane job you or I have isn't comparable. Kid can feel better by being independently wealthy the rest of their life. 

Of course, it's Phil's decision. But I'd skip the lousy graduation ceremony (they're all terrible) and throw them some kind of expensive blowout party when I have free time.

[JonMA1]

To those who are not pro golfers, it might seem like the most exciting job in the world. But 20 some years of doing it probably brings a level of "same sh!t, different year".

It would appear that to Phil his job doesn't compare to showing his family where they stand in his life.

[David in FL]

Additionally, they have all the money in the world.  What they may not have, is as much time together as they might like because of Phil's schedule...

[DrvFrShow]

Phil probably figures.... "I won't win it this year either, so I'll skip it and go to the graduation."

[DeadMan]

I read that his daughter is giving the commencement speech. Not going to bag on a guy because he wants to see his daughter graduate from high school, which only happens once. He's played in 26 US Opens already. I think his daughter's graduation is more special than that.

And, let's be honest, with a course that long and with that rough, he wasn't going to win the thing anyway. Pretty sure I'd make the same decision if I were in his shoes. 

[Patch]

When ever possible, the decision  should always be family first. He's making the right decision. Plus, does not his absence make a great gift to another player?. 

[Shorty]

This is the sort of thing that makes people think Phil is a big phony - like the "I'll walk off the course if the baby comes" thing.

It is grandstanding BS. High School "graduation"? Really? Presumably his daughter is going to university - in fact, I know she is.

But of course - this is an opportunity to say how you'd be just the same and how great it is and Phil is a wonderful family man etc. etc.  Not unlike how when people talk about how much they'd give away if they won the lottery.

He's not missing a funeral. But good on him. Not quite sure why it has to be broadcast, but that's Phil for you.

Is finishing high school really considered to be an incredible thing? Especially in a well-rounded and financially secure family.

 

Edited June 4, 2017 by Shorty

[Golfingdad]

39 minutes ago, Shorty said:

This is the sort of thing that makes people think Phil is a big phony - like the "I'll walk off the course if the baby comes" thing.

It is grandstanding BS. High School "graduation"? Really? Presumably his daughter is going to university - in fact, I know she is.

But of course - this is an opportunity to say how you'd be just the same and how great it is and Phil is a wonderful family man etc. etc.  Not unlike how when people talk about how much they'd give away if they won the lottery.

He's not missing a funeral. But good on him. Not quite sure why it has to be broadcast, but that's Phil for you.

Is finishing high school really considered to be an incredible thing? Especially in a well-rounded and financially secure family.

 

See, I see the opposite.  People thought he was phony because he said he'd walk off the course but didn't get a chance to prove it, so they cynically assumed he was full of it.  To me, this validates that.

Also, you can't really fault him for it being broadcast.  If he's not playing, a lot of people want to know why.  I guess he could say "it's none of your business" or lie and say "no reason" but isn't the truth more genuine than either of those?

I guess I just don't understand the cynicism.

[roamin]

4 hours ago, Aguirre said:

Sports are a different form of profession, and even fewer would force people to work on Saturday.

Golf is an individual sport, though. Phil's not on a team, so there's no obligation to play to not, "let the team down"; and there are clearly no requirements to play in the US Open in any of his endorsement contracts, or he'd probably be playing.

2 hours ago, DeadMan said:

I read that his daughter is giving the commencement speech.

And there it is! It's not just her HS graduation (although that would be enough). Thank you for the post, @DeadMan. I feel like I'm on slashdot...misleading headlines, no reference links or citations, and people bashing someone for being human. Phil is people, too.  Now, like a typical slashdot user, I'll not google it myself and continue to speak as if I know the 'whole' story now. 

1 hour ago, Shorty said:

Is finishing high school really considered to be an incredible thing?

Obviously, "anyone" - "can do it". It's not about that. It is a milestone, and a big one for most teenagers/parents/families in America. Babies "leaving the nest", big brothers and sisters leaving siblings behind, leaving pets, friends, and other such things. It can be a big deal. YMMV. 

Edited June 4, 2017 by roamin

[David L Yskes]

So, i dont get why Phil is considered a phony for not playing in the US Open to attend his daughter's HS graduation?   and yes i do remember years ago when he was expecting one of his kids, and would of walked off the course....    I dont doubt he would have either....   

Hunter Mahan walked away from a tournament, while leading it too......   other's have walked away from a tournament too, for other family reasons..   

 

[todgot]

1 hour ago, David L Yskes said:

So, i dont get why Phil is considered a phony for not playing in the US Open to attend his daughter's HS graduation?   and yes i do remember years ago when he was expecting one of his kids, and would of walked off the course....    I dont doubt he would have either....   

He's a phony because he's doing it to make everyone think he's a great father and put's his family first... and he's so good at being a phony he's actually being a great father and putting his family first.  You can't tell can you... the real Phil versus the phony Phil...  Damn he's good.