Phil Mickelson - A True Champion

Coming into the Masters this year all anyone heard about was Tiger Woods, and how this was going to be his first tournament since everyone found out who Tiger Woods really is. There was little mention of anyone else, especially Phil Mickelson, who entered the week as a two-time Masters champion. In fact, on PGATour.com he wasn't even listed as one of the top ten favorites heading into the tournament. This week was going to be all about Tiger. Everyone was talking about how impressive it would be if Tiger won, especially once he got into contention. My only question is: what would have been impressive about Tiger Woods winning the Masters last week? Nothing. It was his own fault that he had to take five months off from competitive golf. You know what is impressive though, a man winning the Masters less than a year after both his mom and wife were diagnosed with breast cancer, a man winning the Masters who has spent most of his year showing up on Wednesday or Tuesday night of a tournament week so he could spend more time with his wife and children, and a man winning the Masters that last time he stood on the 18th tee on Sunday with a lead in a major saw it all slip away. Now that is impressive. These things and so many more made Phil Mickelson's win at this year's Masters very special.

Now for the golf. Phil started out the 2010 Masters with two solid rounds of 67 and 71 to put him two shots back heading into the weekend. Then on Saturday Phil vaulted up the leaderboard by going eagle, eagle, birdie on the 13th, 14th, and 15th holes, with the eagle on 14 coming via a hole-out from 140 yards. When it was all said and done on Saturday Mickelson was one shot back of Lee Westwood at 11 under par.

The final round started with Phil making par on the first seven holes, which wasn't all bad because Westwood had not made any sort of a move either, but K. J. Choi and Fred Couples were moving steadily up the leaderboard. Then Phil made a birdie on the par five eighth and it looked as if his round was about to come alive. Unfortunately his driver would become wayward as he hit his tee shot deep into the trees on the ninth and had to punch out, but his shot game would save him as he got up and down. The up and down coupled with a Westwood three putt bogey put Phil in the lead to start the back nine. Now it looked like Phil was going to take a firm hold on the tournament, but once again he hit a wayward tee ball deep into the trees. Not only that, K. J. Choi made a birdie ahead of him to tie the lead. Once again though Phil was able to come up big as he was able to hit his second shot up by the green and get up and down with a brilliant chip. Unfortunately another wayward tee ball would ensue. This time Phil got a little lucky though as he was able to hit the green in regulation. Two putts later Phil sealed his third straight working man's par and headed to the 12th tied for the lead with K. J. Choi at 12 under par. Now is when the final stretch run began. Phil hit a solid 9-iron to about 20 feet. Then he canned the putt for birdie and gave a fist pump as the crowd roared. Now it looked as if he was going to really take hold of the tournament. Once again though he would hit a wayward drive into the trees on the par five 13th. After Choi bogeyed ahead of him Phil had a two shot lead and a decision to make. Well actually Phil didn't have a decision to make, as we found out in his press conference after the tournament he was always planning on going for it. Pretty much everyone else thought he had a decision to make though, and not only that, we all thought that his decision would be to lay up. But this is Phil Mickelson, so he pulled out his 6-iron and put a crisp strike on the ball. As the ball was in the air I am sure that golf writers all across the world were prepared to write about how Phil Mickelson had blown the 2010 Masters by hitting it into the creek on 13. Guess what though? He didn't hit it in the creek. In fact, he hit it to about six feet and had a chance to take complete control of the tournament with an eagle. Now he didn't make the eagle putt, but he made his birdie and now had a two shot lead over Lee Westwood, who also made birdie. Both Mickelson and Westwood made pars on the 14th, so Phil came to the 15th, which is the last real risk reward hole, with a two shot lead. At this point one couldn't help but notice that Anthony Kim had surged up the leaderboard to 12 under par. He would run out of holes though and finish at that number. Back to the final group now. Phil finally hit a solid drive at the 15th as did Lee Westwood. Phil then proceeded to hit a solid second shot onto the green and two putted for birdie. After Lee Westwood missed his birdie putt Phil had a three shot lead with three to play. On the par three 16th both men hit solid tee shots to about 20 feet and took pars. So Phil would retain his three shot lead going to the 17th. Phil's tee ball on 17 was solid, but after an average approach, a lag put that went six feet by, and a birdie by Westwood, Phil was now faced with a tough putt to save par and take a two shot lead to the 18th. Once again golf writers all around the world were poised to write about the demise of Phil Mickelson. But guess what? He came up clutch again. So now Phil stood on the final tee on Sunday with a lead in a major championship. Now once again golf writers all around the world were poised to write about a Phil Mickelson collapse, as, unfortunately, we all know what happened last time Phil was in this position. Guess what though? He hit a solid 3-wood that just went into the rough. Then he hit a solid 7-iron to 12 feet. After Westwood missed his birdie and cleaned up his par, Phil only needed three putts to win. Phil made the birdie putt though to finish in style. Phil went 67-67 on the weekend to finish at 16 under par and win his third Masters and fourth major championship by three shots over Lee Westwood. Right after the final putt went in Phil embraced his caddy and great friend Jim "Bones" Mackay in a hug, and then he embraced his wife in a hug behind the green as a tear rolled down his face. It was a beautiful moment, and at this point everyone knew that the right man had won.

It was a great sight to see Phil slip on the green jacket for a third time at the awards ceremony. Also, it was great to hear Phil thank so many people, especially his great friend "Bones", who has been with the Mickelson family through all of their troubles. Phil did get choked up towards the end of his speech, but that was great to see as it shows just how much he cares for his wife and family. And one thing I know for sure, Phil would give up all four of his major championship victories to see his wife and mom at full health again.

This third Masters victory and fourth major victory for Phil no doubt secures his place as the premiere champion from this era. Now you may be wondering how I could put Phil ahead of Tiger when it comes to winning golf tournaments. Notice my wording though. I said champion, not tournament winner. Tiger is by far the greatest tournament winner of this era, but being a great tournament winner is something totally different from being a true champion. A true champion plays with class and integrity. A true champion plays with respect for the fans and his fellow competitors. A true champion is graceful in winning and defeat. A true champion respects the rules and heritage of golf. A true champion plays with humility. And above all, a true champion knows that winning tournaments is nice, but there are so many more important things. A tournament winner only wins tournaments and does little else. Phil Mickelson embodies all the attributes of a true champion, and so many more. That is why he is the premiere champion from this era.

Congratulations on a great win Phil. I expect that we will see you at the top of a leaderboard again very soon, and whether or not you go on to win that tournament, one thing is for sure; you will be playing like a true champion.