Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods Deliver One, Two Punch in Tour Championship and Fed Ex Cup- 9-27-09
Author: Mike | Category: Golf Tournaments
I must admit I’ve been disappointed watching the Major Tournaments all season because the two best golfers in the world have not been able to capitalize when in the hunt on Sunday. Tiger Woods is recovering from ACL surgery on his knee after last year’s U.S. Open when Rocco Mediate played out of his socks to give Tiger a run for the money and force a playoff on the Monday after a tie for 72 holes in regulation – Good for you Rocco. As far as I’m concerned Rocco still had no business being there as Tiger Woods was well ahead of the field of many players much more statistically better than Rocco and on any given day could beat him handily, but Rocco was there and he gave Tiger some stiff competition. He knew in the back of his mind that this may be the only chance he would ever have for an opportunity like this and he did well to make the best of it. We all know how it turned out but Tiger is back and Rocco deserves some credit for his tenacity in battle!
In this year’s Tour Championship and Fed Ex Cup, a number of great players also had a shot at either title. Because of the new reset format it gives players who are close in the standings an even better opportunity to win the Cup. But finally the cream rose to the top. I’ve been waiting patiently all season as Major after Major have slipped out of the grasp of the world’s two best players, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. I’ve been rooting for these guys since the Masters, when Phil made a charge reminiscent of Jack Nicklaus in the 86 Masters and Tiger stayed right in the hunt with him but neither of them could seize the moment. Phil Mickelson also had a good shot at the U.S. Open when he was playing his heart out for wife Amy, who had been recently diagnosed with breast cancer as was his mother shortly thereafter, but the distraction proved too much for him and understandably so as he dropped out of contention on the final nine on Sunday.
The Tour Championship finally yielded the One Two Punch from the world’s two best golfers, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. With many of the world’s top players in contention for both the Tour Championship and the Fed Ex Cup, such as Jim Furyk, Kenny Perry, Padraig Harrington, Steve Stricker and Sean O’Hair, the lead exchanged hands a number of times between these players but Phil and Tiger showed them why they were considered one and two ranked in the world. Phil shot a final round 65, which was 4 strokes better than the rest of the field and good enough for a three stroke victory over the worlds best player Tiger Woods. Tiger’s statistical standings in all the important categories remain intact. He is # 1 in the world ranking, # 1 on the Money List, six victories under his belt this season on tour solidify his rank as # 1 in virtually any category that matters and now the Fed Ex Cup title and $10,000,000 dollars more in his bank account. What more can you ask for? Tiger is back and with a vengeance. As much as any normal human being would be satisfied with his accomplishments for this year I’m sure he has already strategized with his golf coach, Hank Haney, on how to ensure a few more notches in his Majors Belt for next year. Tiger is still young but impatient to reach the goal he had cemented in his mindset at an early age, tie and then beat Jack Nicklaus’s record 18 majors. He is well on his way with 14 but he may have a few more years ahead to reach his goal. There are many good players on the Tour who also want to win and who will provide Tiger with some stiff competition along the way but make no mistake about it he will be victorious in the end.
Phil Mickelson worked with Dave Stockton recently on his putting stroke, which has given him some problems of late, and whatever tips Dave gave him seems to have worked as he was impeccable with his putting during the Tour Championship. The fact that his mom and wife Amy are also doing well now may also have contributed to his return to true form. Phil and Tiger, Tiger and Phil go one two in the Tour Championship and the Fed Ex cup respectively. All I can say is ” Finally!” The season comes to an end for both of them on a high note and the Tour Championship represents as close as you can get to a major without actually being one and the Fed Ex Cup denotes excellence in play for the entire season. Congratulations to Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods, the best of the best! A very appropriate and happy ending to the season. Happy Golfing to All!
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Tags: PGA, Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods
October 14th, 2009 at 10:21 am
I’m glad you understood. If any questions e-mail me at mikedeagle@optonline.net and I will reply asap.