where is Mickelson

[TeeItHi]

I'm glad MW if filling in for him but the is PM? I'm sure he's not that busy.

[wayland]

When he pulled out of the Players Championship, he basically said he was taking the rest of the year off to spend with his family.

[EDSGolf]

PM is done for the year.........he's been "done" since the US Open.

[threeputt]

PM is done for the year.........he's been "done" since the US Open.

He is at home making babies:) :)

[hogannut]

I'm personally getting sick and tired of both Phil's and Tiger's attitudes. Tiger can't play in the PGA championship because he is tired and then a week later he's flying all over the world playing. Please, I guess if the tournament isn;t set up that TIger is the biggest and most important part of tournament then he doesn't play unless it's a major. I think very soon Tiger will play a half dozen events on U.S soil outside of the majors.

As for Phil, this guy pathetic. He's in the prime of his career and he has to go home and cry in his pillow for the rest of the seaon because he and his caddy made the biggest bonehead decison in the entire PGA season. This is NOT the way you improve as a golfer, and it should not be the way you should be portraying yourself to the golfing public. I know these guys give up a lot of time during events and that Phil sings autographs etc. THey also need to understand that EVERY choice they make regarding their schedules is a reflection on the tour as well as themsevles, and most importantly the game itself.

All I know is if Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Lee Treviono, Ben HOgan did what Phil did in the U.S> open this year they would have faced the music, realized they made a mistake and started working toward their next opportunity so that if they got into another situation like that they would do the right thing the next time. THey didn't go running home to cry on their wives shoulders, and then justify it by saying their family was #1. Nicklaus by his own admission did chose family over golf, but Nicklaus never shyed away from a challenge or an opportunity. Except for Tiger when he feels like it there are few American players these days that really dig in and embrase the challenge of competition. Jim Furyk is the only one that comes to my mind. This is why the Americans are getting their butts kicked in world wide competition, which by the way was far more even and if anything favoured the U.S. during the Nicklaus era.

There is to much $ in golf now. THat is one of the problems. Mickleson can only be inspired to play for his own accomplishments as he has enough $ to live very nicely for the rest of his days. The U.S. players better wake up and start playing again or they will be getting further and further behind the rest of the world. Except for TIger golf has been dominated by international players for the last decade and there seems to be no end in sight for that trend to continue.

[FlipWedge]

I, for one, am glad to not have seen the smug, goofy grin sauntering the lush green fairways and slashing his ball from one roughed in tree line to another all day.
HOGANNUT has it right though, why would I bother to show up once I'm rich? We've all been to that point in the season where we feel burnt out. I think the PGA Tour has a minimum of 15 tournaments required.
Imagine if you only had to work 15 weeks a year and earned so much that you still looked for charities to reduce your taxable income.

Tiger and Phil can only be inspired by their own desires to achieve more and frankly .. I don't think Phil has the drive required to stay at the top. Only time will tell if Tiger does.

HOGANNUT, do you suppose Nicklaus told other players he feels he made a mistake spending all that time away from the family while the boys were growing up? It wouldn't surprise me to learn that was the case. But even if you play 25 weeks a year and the family travels with you for half of those. Isn't 39 weeks a year with the family enough? I'm positive if I work out the hours I'm away at work it sure doesn't get close to being home that much.

[hogannut]

I, for one, am glad to not have seen the smug, goofy grin sauntering the lush green fairways and slashing his ball from one roughed in tree line to another all day.
HOGANNUT has it right though, why would I bother to show up once I'm rich? We've all been to that point in the season where we feel burnt out. I think the PGA Tour has a minimum of 15 tournaments required.
Imagine if you only had to work 15 weeks a year and earned so much that you still looked for charities to reduce your taxable income.

Tiger and Phil can only be inspired by their own desires to achieve more and frankly .. I don't think Phil has the drive required to stay at the top. Only time will tell if Tiger does.

HOGANNUT, do you suppose Nicklaus told other players he feels he made a mistake spending all that time away from the family while the boys were growing up? It wouldn't surprise me to learn that was the case. But even if you play 25 weeks a year and the family travels with you for half of those. Isn't 39 weeks a year with the family enough? I'm positive if I work out the hours I'm away at work it sure doesn't get close to being home that much.

According to the interviews I have seen with Nicklaus he did things like taking off right after say a Friday round, would fly home, watch one of the boys football games and then fly back for Saturday. Nicklaus eluded (SP?) more so to practice time than tournaments in terms of "sacrificing" his time.

Nicklaus' reasons for playing a reduced schedule were to concentrate on majors, not to take time off. I will also say Nicklaus and his generation would NEVER not show up to important tournaments like the PGA where only the top 30 money earners gets invited. As far as I'm concerned anyone who is gauranteed an invite like that should be scheduling that tournament into their itinerary. Not showing up is a slap in the face. My god how freaking tired do these guys get? They are more fit than the guys from the previous generation yet they play less?? This doesn't make sense.

For me anyway I think if you are going to step into the relm of professional sports these days you DO have an obligation to maybe play at times you would PREFER not to. YOu do it to show respect to your sport and yourself. What would happen if say Matts Sundin announced one day he'd be taking 3 weeks off during the season because he is tired and misses his family.

Phil could have taken time off, played in the PGA 2 weeks ago and then rested again. Man maybe if Phil rested a bit less and worked a bit more he'd lose some of that ponch and man breasts he walks around with!!:eek: :rofl:

Also, I think the wives of the previous generation golfers were MUCH more supportive of the husbands careers. Both Mrs. nicklaus and Palmer travelled with their husbands and took care of the kids. You never even see Tigers wife (once I recall seeing her at the torunaments) and yes Amy does travel with Phil, but how trying can it be when you are staying in the top hotels and flying in private jets? Spoiled is the word that comes to my mind.

[duffer_devon]

I was just reading the stats for Jack Nicklaus and after he turned 30 he didn't play in more than 19 events per year (official) for the rest of his career. I'm not saying Tiger should have skipped the Tour Championship but it is interesting to see that Jack didn't play in more events than Tiger does.

[leftintherough]

Man maybe if Phil rested a bit less and worked a bit more he'd lose some of that ponch and man breasts he walks around with!!:eek: :rofl:

.....Phil, but how trying can it be when you are staying in the top hotels and flying in private jets? Spoiled is the word that comes to my mind.

:p :p

And some other good descriptives come to mind as well.

[hogannut]

I was just reading the stats for Jack Nicklaus and after he turned 30 he didn't play in more than 19 events per year (official) for the rest of his career. I'm not saying Tiger should have skipped the Tour Championship but it is interesting to see that Jack didn't play in more events than Tiger does.

You are correct....but Jack played the tournaments that mattered. The guys from this generation had WAY more respect for the game itself. They felt they were ambasadors for the game, and always showed up for the tournaments they felt were necessary to them. Like the memorial for Jack and Arnies tournament....can't remember the name right now, but you guys know it. Nowadays it's all about the player and whether he feels like playing. It's a joke.

[milhaus]

You are correct....but Jack played the tournaments that mattered. The guys from this generation had WAY more respect for the game itself. They felt they were ambasadors for the game, and always showed up for the tournaments they felt were necessary to them. Like the memorial for Jack and Arnies tournament....can't remember the name right now, but you guys know it. Nowadays it's all about the player and whether he feels like playing. It's a joke.
Did I tell you how I had to walk six miles to school and back, through -40 degree temperatures and 4 foot high snowdrifts, with only a light jacket and running shoes on, sonny? Okay Gramps, we get you don't like the young 'uns, but get over it already . . . :D :D

[Benny]

You know what I am sick of people whining about how Tiger and Phil are done for the season At least other guys are getting more publicity even though Tiger and Phil are still talked about If they want to take the rest off the year than be it If Tiger was still playing on the PGA tour everybody would be saying let somebody else win and or I am sick of seeing and hearing Tiger win another one, Tiger this, Tiger that blah blah blah

WHO CARES !! DROP IT

[golf nut]

where is Mickelson


Frankly Scarlet I don't give a Damn.

[Leftygolfer30]

Comparing Nicklaus' schedule to Tiger's or Phil's is really a waste of time and like comparing apples to oranges. The PGA "season" did not run nearly as long as it does today nor were there as many events. Also, there wasn't nearly as many off course commitments. I'm not saying Jack didn't have anything going on off the course but I doubt it was as time consuming as it is for today's players.

Honestly, I'm getting sick of people bashing Phil on a constant basis. For crying out loud he's an independent contractor and can play when and where he wants. We should all be so luck as to take 2-3 months off every year and spend it with our family. Some may forget that Phil's wife and son almost died during his son's birth. I don't see anything wrong with wanting to enjoy spending time with them - especially when you have more than enough money to do so.

BTW, hockey players don't need to take "three weeks off", they get the summer months. Leaf players of course, get a month and half more off than most of the rest of the NHL!

[golf nut]

I'm getting sick of people bashing Phil on a constant basis. For crying out loud he's an independent contractor !

So is Mike Tyson, I dislike him as well! (and not because he works but a few days a year).

[TourIQ]

Honestly, I'm getting sick of people bashing Phil on a constant basis. For crying out loud he's an independent contractor and can play when and where he wants. We should all be so luck as to take 2-3 months off every year and spend it with our family. Some may forget that Phil's wife and son almost died during his son's birth. I don't see anything wrong with wanting to enjoy spending time with them - especially when you have more than enough money to do so.
Hi leftygolfer30

I agree, guys like Phil and Tiger are independent contractors and can pick and choose what they want to play. What good does it do to compare their schedule to someone else who played in a different era? I remember Bruce Leitzke did more fishing and trips with the family then he entered golf tournaments but those events he did play he made enough coin to keep his card. Good for them if they can have the FREEDOM to DECIDE.

Nick O'Hern was 94th on the PGA Money List and he made just under $1 million. I bet the 94th guy in the NBA makes more coin than that. I do not regrudge the PGA stars making the money they do. I bet the whole golf industry is taking more of the pie than the touring professionals swinging the clubs and entering tournaments with missed cuts [no pay check for a given week].

I like it when Tiger does not show up and play. Gives the underdog a chance at a win. Seriously, I value the tour professioal who can put his/her kids first vs. playing another event. They owe us nothing, they are accountable to themselves. If only we had the given talent to be so fortunite.

If eveyone on this forum was handed $5 million by MOK who would continue their day job?

[golf nut]

If eveyone on this forum was handed $5 million by MOK who would continue their day job?

Well ... MOK might have to. :)

[hogannut]

Comparing Nicklaus' schedule to Tiger's or Phil's is really a waste of time and like comparing apples to oranges. The PGA "season" did not run nearly as long as it does today nor were there as many events. Also, there wasn't nearly as many off course commitments. I'm not saying Jack didn't have anything going on off the course but I doubt it was as time consuming as it is for today's players.

Honestly, I'm getting sick of people bashing Phil on a constant basis. For crying out loud he's an independent contractor and can play when and where he wants. We should all be so luck as to take 2-3 months off every year and spend it with our family. Some may forget that Phil's wife and son almost died during his son's birth. I don't see anything wrong with wanting to enjoy spending time with them - especially when you have more than enough money to do so.

BTW, hockey players don't need to take "three weeks off", they get the summer months. Leaf players of course, get a month and half more off than most of the rest of the NHL!

I totally disagree with your statement. Yes PGA players do have the ability to pick and chose their events. My opinion is both Phil and Tiger made a poor choice not to play in the final event. I have no problem with Phil taking time off, but I am getting sick and tired of hearing about how these guys are so tired. Yes the U.S. Open was draining on Phil....no doubt. But are you suggesting that a 35 year old "athlete" who is in the prime of their career needs that much down time particualrily when the end of the season was just around the corner?

Phil can do whatever he wants, but what he should WANT to do is to represent the game and himself at the same level that represent what the game has given him. Golf has given him the ability to take 2-3 months off a year not to mention financial security for the rest of his life and probablly the rest of his childresn lives, a luxury that 99.9% of the world does not get. He could at least show up for the last tournament of the year, considering only 30 people get invited. THe previous generation would because they "knew" what their responsibilities were as professionals in their industry.

ANY other professional in ANY other industry would be slammed if they didnt' show up. How do you think it would look if the engineer of say some great building didn't show up to the grand opening ceramonies? Do you think the public would be OK with his absence because he was tired and missed his family. Why should professional athletes not be subjected to the same scrutinity? If anything they should be scrutinized more because of the $ they make.

I'm not a cold hearted s.o.b. and I actually like Phil and think he is good for golf, but the reality is Amy was sick a long time ago and everyone is fine (Phil himself has said this publicly). Phil Mickleson isn't the only person in the world who has had to deal with health problems in his family. Most regular people would go back to work once their families health issues have been resolved, why should Phil Mickleson be excluded from that?

As for your comments on the Leafs......whatever.......what place is your team in?

[wayland]

Independent contractor or not, the fact is...Jack, Arnie, Gary, Watson and others built this Tour. The very tour that affords Phil and Tiger their current lifestyles. The Players Championship is an elite, invite only event which showcases the top players in the world for the current year. If your top players don't show up, the entire basis of this event becomes a mockery. By deminishing the prestige of this event, they are doing the tour a disservice and THAT is what pisses most of us off.

They are selfish to reap the rewards the Tour offers them, but only pay it forward minimally.

[Bellyhungry]

It is Tiger's that got the PGA Tour to the money that they play for today. So I will give him a pass.

As for Lefty, he is probably in a rehab to fix his head.

[hogannut]

Independent contractor or not, the fact is...Jack, Arnie, Gary, Watson and others built this Tour. The very tour that affords Phil and Tiger their current lifestyles. The Players Championship is an elite, invite only event which showcases the top players in the world for the current year. If your top players don't show up, the entire basis of this event becomes a mockery. By deminishing the prestige of this event, they are doing the tour a disservice and THAT is what pisses most of us off.

They are selfish to reap the rewards the Tour offers them, but only pay it forward minimally.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

[leftintherough]

. By deminishing the prestige of this event, they are doing the tour a disservice and THAT is what pisses most of us off.

They are selfish to reap the rewards the Tour offers them, but only pay it forward minimally.

If not pissed, certainly dissappointed.

[wayland]

For crying out loud he's an independent contractor and can play when and where he wants. We should all be so luck as to take 2-3 months off every year and spend it with our family.

Being an independent contractor (in the IT industry), this point you make strikes a nerve with me.

During the dot com boom, jobs were abundant and literally you could jump from one job to another every couple of months demanding more money without having done a thing and not completing one project. I witnessed many friends and colleagues who abused this. They would get a new contract, work it for a month and regardless of moral obligations, they would jump to another job if it paid even like $3/hr extra. :shhh: They were breaking a contractual agreement for the sake of a few extra dollars. I loathed this behaviour and have never done so because this industry affords me a comfortable lifestyle and to ruin the reputation of contractors by being greedy like that is just wrong IMO. What's that saying? You don't siht in your own bed?

[golferboy]

I'm gonna have to disagree there.....sure Jack and Arnie made golf somewhat popular, but tour purses and such are based on TV contracts and ratings and only one person is responsible for the huge $$$ networks pay to show PGA golf.....TIGER.....he can pretty much do what he wants...if they dont like it, then he can just show up for the four majors and still have a nice little career...Independent contractor or not, the fact is...Jack, Arnie, Gary, Watson and others built this Tour. The very tour that affords Phil and Tiger their current lifestyles. The Players Championship is an elite, invite only event which showcases the top players in the world for the current year. If your top players don't show up, the entire basis of this event becomes a mockery. By deminishing the prestige of this event, they are doing the tour a disservice and THAT is what pisses most of us off.

They are selfish to reap the rewards the Tour offers them, but only pay it forward minimally.

[wayland]

I'm gonna have to disagree there.....sure Jack and Arnie made golf somewhat popular, but tour purses and such are based on TV contracts and ratings and only one person is responsible for the huge $$$ networks pay to show PGA golf.....TIGER.....he can pretty much do what he wants...if they dont like it, then he can just show up for the four majors and still have a nice little career...

Yeah but Jack is the reason why Tiger even exists.

[hogannut]

I'm gonna have to disagree there.....sure Jack and Arnie made golf somewhat popular, but tour purses and such are based on TV contracts and ratings and only one person is responsible for the huge $$$ networks pay to show PGA golf.....TIGER.....he can pretty much do what he wants...if they dont like it, then he can just show up for the four majors and still have a nice little career...

Without the previous generation players there would be no TV contracts and therefore no big $. You are right Tiger and anyone else CAN do whatever they want, but our beef with that thinking is WHY don't they WANT to play? Out of all the sports these days nothing comes close to golf in terms of history and MOST golfers from a generation ago realized that and honoured their predecessors and worked hard to promote their current tour. It doesn't seem this trend is continuing with the current players, and if that is so the generation after these guys won't do it either.

You talk about TV ratings. Who is responsible for making golf an event for TV? Arnold Palmer pioneered TV for golf, just as Ben Hogan pioneered the modern day approach to the golf swing.

I think the point people are trying to make here is that these players should be a little more concerned about honouring the game that has given them their status and financial security, and not showing up to the tour championship because you are tired after resting for a month is pretty lame excuse. THese days it's all about the individual, and there is more to it than just that. Sometimes people have to go to work tired. Sometimes people have to go to work when they are dealing with personal issues. So why are professional golfers not included?

Try calling into work the next time you have a big meeting for example and tell your boss you don't want to come to work today because you are tired and need some time off. I can pretty much guarantee that would be your last day at that job.

[wayland]

You talk about TV ratings. Who is responsible for making golf an event for TV? Arnold Palmer pioneered TV for golf, just as Ben Hogan pioneered the modern day approach to the golf swing.


Shell World of Golf!!

I love watching those re-runs, the commentary is fabulous and it's cool to see those legends play the game back in their prime.

[golferboy]

Jack was a motivation, his father is the reason Tiger exists.:rolleyes: Yeah but Jack is the reason why Tiger even exists.

[hogannut]

Jack was a motivation, his father is the reason Tiger exists.:rolleyes:

Ya....I'll agree with that, but no matter how much you encourage someone, anyone, it is up to the individual. My 9 year old son like golf, and is a real natural player. However he does not have the mental make up to become a professional player. Not that I want him to, but my point is I can show him how to grip a club, how to swing a club, and even how to manage a course, but I can't teach him to compete. You are flat out a competitor or you are not. Tiger is a competitor by his nature and by his own admission.

Of course if Earl didn't show Tiger at a young age his chances of being where he is now would be slim. However if Tiger just like playing and having fun Earl would have not been able to make him a competitor.

You see it all the time in kids hockey for example. You have a 5 or 6 year old kid that gets 10 goals a game and everyone in the rink thinks at the time he's the next Gretzky, but he never develops. Why? He certainly has the skill, but he doesn't have to desire to compete and as this kids gets older his natural skills soon become less of a factor, particularily if he is put into AAA hockey and he becomes ordinary pretty quickly.

THis is not an insult it is an opinion, and trust me the hardest thing for anyone to become is a professional athlete. Think about it how long does it take to become a pro hockey player? At least 15 years of grueling schedules and huge times commitments. Makes 7 years of university and medical school look like a walk in the park.

[corchard]

hardest thing for anyone to become is a professional athlete.

I played against this guy in Oklahoma who showed up on the first tee in torn jeans, flip flops and had a set of 20 year old blades. As he started his pre shot routine he sort of weaved and fell out of his stance. He was still drunk from his brothers stag the night before. He resets himself and swings a beautiful 290 yard draw down the center of the fairway.

Turns out he was a product of the US Junior system and subsequently the college system. He said it was like riding a bike, once you learn you never forget and said he had probably played more golf before he was 20 than I'd play my entire life. He played in the OK state championships and was in contention for the lead and got a bad case of the yips. They got worse and worse until in his words he folded like a deck of cards, walked away, and built houses for 10 years. This was his first game in ten years and did it as a favour to his brother. He ended up shooting 1 over par on a quite difficult course.

Point to the story: Mental drive means as much as physical talent.
(Beside it's a good story.)