There are demons behind Mickelson's "aw-shucks" grin, and that's why he won't win his fourth major at this week's PGA Championship.
Back when he was sponsored by Ford, one of their commercials carried the tag line, "What will Phil do next?" The problem is, always has been, that not even Phil has the faintest clue. (Yes, I know he's won twice this year and lost a playoff.)
While the evidence is clear throughout his career, you need go no further than just this season for all you need: The no-driver decision at the U.S. Open speaks volumes, as do the three bogeys in the late going last Sunday at Firestone. He spent an absurd nine hours on nine of Oakland Hills' holes one day last week in preparation for the season's final major. An hour a hole. Huh?
"You can certainly look into it too deeply, and therefore, change what you know," Ian Poulter commented when asked obliquely about Mickelson's approach to the game. Despite his great physical talent, Phil just can't seem to get out of his own way to fulfill his potential. Kind of reminds me of the 53-year-old who led through three rounds at Royal Birkdale last month.
Mickelson also found time to comment on the possibility of golf in the Olympics. Despite having played in one in 1990, Mickelson must have forgotten that golf already has its Olympics: the World Amateur Team Championships. They are played in the true spirit of amateurism unlike the Olympics, which have outlived their original intent anyhow and should be mothballed altogether. Besides, Canada is the defending champ in individual Olympic golf, as George S. Lyon beat Chandler Egan of the U.S. in 1904. We've got the trophy and we're not giving it back.
Although it's been 78 years since a European (Tommy Armour of Scotland) won the PGA, there have been few more promising opportunities than this week. Garcia won the Players Championship, Harrington defended his Open Championship and Westwood is on fire. He placed third at the U.S. Open, second at Firestone and when the Euros pummeled the Yanks 18.5-9.5 in the 2004 Ryder Cup played at Oakland Hills, Westwood contributed 4.5 of a possible five points to the cause. If you're looking for a Euro winner, don't pick Luke Donald who withdrew as he ponders surgery on his injured left wrist.
So whom should you pick? As Bart Bryant said, "If one of the big hitters is piping it, they're going to have a good week." No kidding. At 7,400 yards, the par-70 Monster, as Ben Hogan labeled it after winning the 1951 U.S. Open at seven-over-par, rewards long, accurate tee shots and precise approaches to its, shall we say, controversial greens. The ninth is a 257-yard par 3 from the tips, the par-5 12th nudges 600 yards, and the 14th is a 501-yard par 4. With a wet and humid July is Detroit, the rough will be thick, hopefully frustrating the bomb-and-gouge crowd.
And we will be in for another week of exciting golf despite the fact that Tiger continues to rehab his reconstructed left knee. Amazing, isn't it, how we finally realized that there is terrific, riveting competition every week on the PGA Tour? The only difference since June 24, when Tiger went under the knife, is that the guys know they're playing for first, not second.