Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson Rivalry on Hold?
Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson are the world’s two top ranked golfers respectively. Their rivalry was heating up at the end of this past season when a putting lesson from Dave Stockton helped Phil to edge out Tiger in The Fed Ex Cup. Tiger’s return this season, after his knee surgery side lined him for nine months after the U.S. Open last year, was anti- climactic because he did not capitalize on any opportunities in the Majors in 2009. Even when he was leading Y.E.Yang in the PGA at the turn on Sunday, he could not bring home the trophy and now I think I know why. Even for the top player in the world you must maintain concentration if you are to achieve victory in golf tournaments and especially at the Majors. Tiger was surely distracted in his personal life as we are now all aware.
Tiger’s year has been fairly successful considering the distractions between golf tournaments. Achieving six championships while juggling more than twice as many women is a pretty incredible feat if you think about it. The public was not privy to Tiger’s personal indiscretions at the time of his victories and also his defeat at the last major championship, the PGA, by Y.E.Yang , as noted previously. Tiger has left the door wide open for Phil Mickelson to step right into his potential role as superstar without him in the mix. Phil has all the tools to be one of the best ever but some poor decisions down the stretch on Sunday in the majors have cost him dearly in the past. I think he is smarter now and if Tiger maintains his decision to take a leave from the tour, as he has stated recently, then I think Phil will be the new top dog.
My personal opinion is that Tiger should jump right back into golf competition and quit the women for now. If Elin has decided to leave him, as the most recent tabloids have indicated, then he has nothing to lose by staying and playing on tour with his one true love, Golf. Tiger, gather your golf clubs and golf balls and get back in the saddle. Playing golf and hitting golf balls in Hawaii this coming season and for the New Year will be the best medicine for you. Happy Golfing to All!