1-Man’s Opinion Column-Friday “Lefty-Everything is All Right-At Least on the Course”
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“Lefty is All Right-At Least on the Course”
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He remains the fan’s man.
The smile, the shot making, the self effacing comments.
And for 1-day, Phil Mickelson nearly touched history, in a career that has been tremendously rewarding.
What he did on the links course at Troon, Scotland was electrifying. The 8-under 63 round in the British Open was astounding. Not just because he has had a win drought stretching back to 3-years this week. But because if came in Scotland, where the weather and the winds are constantly changing. Where pot bunkers and birdies and bad rounds are more common place than birdies, eagles and smiles.
Mickelson shot a bogey free round, an accomplishment. He had 8-birdies, another amazing feat. He just missed his final putt, that lipped off the 18th cup, that would have given him a “62”, an all time record low round ever in the “The Open”. And this in a tourney that dates back 157-years. Think of that.
He hit shots out of bunkers that went up to the tee. He rammed home long distance 35-foot putts. And he nearly set the record that might stand forever there in the British Iles.
Mickelson’s last win came at Muirfield, this month, back in 2013.
His weeks on the tour have featured some good rounds, but not four days of great golf. His seasons of late have also featured high scores, missed cuts, and an appearance he is worn out, or disinterested.
His off course life has gone off track, with the insider trading scandal he got caught up in, and the forced repayment of over 1M in profits and penalties. And the latest transgression of having to pay off 2.7M of gambling debts, to a man convicted of money laundering that payment thru off-shore accounts, that led to a jail sentence.
But for 1-day, the British Open spotlight was on Mickelson, not so much on the world ranked number one guy Jason Day, nor Rory McIlroy, or young phenom Jordan Spieth.
There may never be another Tiger Woods sighting. And Mickelson is indeed the likely last vestige of that great era, which is making way for the new young global guns.
It was fun to watch, and you got the sense the world is still rooting for him to go get another Grand Slam event.
For 1-day at least, “Lefty was All Right”, and that was great to see.
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