Another Reason Why Mickelson Will Skip FedEx Cup Event
Phil Mickelson has a beef with PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem. Phil also wants to take his kids to school.
But wait!
Golf Magazine Senior Writer Cameron Morfit offers another reason why Lefty will skip the BMW Championship at Cog Hill in Chicago, the third of four events in the FedEx Cup Playoffs.
Morfit writes:
The back-to-school excuse is cute, and impossible to argue against, and the rift with Finchem is intriguing, maybe even true, but the reality is simpler.
To borrow a word he used to describe his record vs. Woods before Monday, Mickelson’s record at Cog Hill is pathetic. He tied for 65th last year, 30th in ‘03, 42nd in ‘01 and missed the cut in 2000. He tied for 35th in ‘98, 26th in ‘96, 43rd in ‘95, 64th in ‘94 and missed the cut in ‘93. He also tied for 38th in ‘92. Get it? This ain’t his cuppa. That could be why he’s played there only twice in the last five years.
Meanwhile Woods has won three Western Opens at Cog Hill and has finished in the top 10 four other times. Only twice in 11 starts has he not finished in the top 25. The BMW is the first FedEx Cup playoff tournament not sponsored by a bank, but Woods at Cog Hill is practically insured by the FDIC. You’d better believe Mickelson knows it, and so does everybody else.
As Morfit also points out, Mickelson would be paired with Steve Stricker and Tiger in the first two rounds. Based on his record at Cog Hill, Phil would probably struggle while Tiger might just lap the field.
Why show up for that?
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7 Responses to “Another Reason Why Mickelson Will Skip FedEx Cup Event”
September 5th, 2007 at 7:53 pm
Much more plausible excuse. When you’ve got such a big ego, you want to stay on top in the limelight as long as you can. He pulled one on Tiger and likes the positive feedback.
September 5th, 2007 at 11:48 pm
During his interview Monday with NBC he said he wanted to be there for the first day of school for his child. That to me is reason enough but to play. When Tiger skips in fives years to attend the first day of school for his child will the media question that? I don’t think so! Does he have a beef with Finchem? Probably, but maybe he was skipping the the BMW anyway and it gave him an opportunity to vent. I love this game, but have grown to dislike the industry built up around it. As we say in spanish it has no sabor!
September 6th, 2007 at 10:04 am
Cindy,
And prey tell who doesn’t have a big ego on tour, or for that matter throughout professional sports? If I had the media watching my every move, sooner or later my ego would need a new golf cap too. Most golfers are terrible (with a capital “T”) terrible at interviews and their handlers are the worst (except maybe Tiger’s) at preparing them for it. They either do interviews, or they don’t. And when they do, most find themselves out of their element. Maybe that is why introverts excel at this game. I hate to say it, but corporate America will sooner or later destroy the goose that laid golden egg. If rounds of golf continue with the current natural or negative growth, like they’ve been for the past 5-7 years (except rounds played by females and minorities), you can only imagine the same holds true of viewer-ship of televised tournament play. I know I’m ranting, but this is the only game (I want to say sport, but that wouldn’t be proper) that is really intertwined between pros and amateurs. So as the pros go, so too do weekend players and visa versa.
September 6th, 2007 at 12:20 pm
I don’t begrudge Phil wanting to be home for the start of school. Lefty has a strong track record as a family man. I respect that. From a past performance standpoint, it is convenient that he’s missing Cog Hill, though.
September 7th, 2007 at 7:13 am
The main problem with these playoffs isn’t the money like some believe; its drawing power. I think that if the three weeks leading up to the where much the same format with a major at the end it would eliminate some top players from skipping these opening events. Make the point system where you have to play each week, and play well, to make the cut for the years final event….a major (PGA Championship?). I guarentee that Woods would show up each year, barring injury, to take a shot at Jack’s 18 major titles. Hell, if you didn’t want to move the PGA to the end of the year make a 5th major for each season. The field would be tougher and competition, should be, tighter. so, i guess what i’m saying is a three week shootout to qualify, maybe fourty or so players, for the last major of the year then everyone’s points get erased and its a normal major with a smaller field of hopefully the best golfers in the world all competing for a major.
September 9th, 2007 at 8:44 am
Brian you are getting close. It needs to be an elimination type playoff. You qualify for the first event with points you earn over season. If the number that goes to the next event is 120, then 120 make the cut, and so on. If you miss an event you are out. You should not be able to play poorly in an event and make it to the next week, or be able to skip a week and advance. NFL teams can’t skip a week and advance to the next game. Get real. Put real money on the line that will be waiting for them on the first tee to let them know what that kind of money looks like and not pay it out over 20 years. That’s bogus. Play well or don’t advance every week. As it stands now, there is no drama, and a big, who cares attitude from the fans.
September 9th, 2007 at 2:38 pm
Is it true that good ol’ Lefty is angry with the Commish because he found out he wasn’t getting a lump sum payment at the Fed Ex finish?
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