The PGA Championship, already in danger of becoming the fifth major, desperately needs Phil Mickelson to hold off his cough till Sunday
Add commentsPhil Mickelson isn’t winning the PGA Championship. That’s like expecting Britney Spears to drop the trailer park schtick and transform into Gwyneth Paltrow. At a certain point, your character’s set.
No, that 2004 Masters will remain Mickelson’s one shining moment. Your future majors count is still going to read Tiger 22, Phil 1 when it’s all said and done.
But Phil Mickelson can save the PGA Championship this weekend. This is the major that’s barely holding onto its major status and the PGA knows it. They tout the fact that the PGA has the best field of all the majors so often they sound like the third-grade nerd pleading, “Pick me! Pick me!” when gym class teams are divvied up. In fact, the PGA is so desperate to pretend there is Masters- or British Open-worthy buzz around this tournament that they told everyone again and again that Baltusrol was a virtual sellout, when it was really anything but.
The day before the tournament, the PGA comes out and finally sheepishly admits, Oh yeah, plenty of tickets still available.
No one’s planning a golf trip around the PGA Championship the way they do the Masters, the U.S. Open or the British. It just doesn’t have the same aura. Never will. The PGA is more aware of this than anybody, having told their members they need to reduce the number of club pros allowed into the field so that the Players Championship does not replace the PGA as golf’s fourth major.
Which brings us back to Phil. With Tiger Woods in a funk, having seemingly come into a major overconfident for once (I’m always forecasting a Tiger comeback, not this time, this is different), the PGA is dependent on Golf’s Good Guy Gagger. It needs Phil to hold off his coughing fit till the back nine on Sunday, to draw the casual fan’s interest.
This weekend, it’s all on Phil.
| « Only golf cannot get its major events covered in a major TV way: PGA Championship at Baltusrol just the latest joke | Greg Norman wimps out at PGA Championship, avoids Tiger Woods' killer glare » |
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Jason Scott Deegan:
The Accidental Golfer:
Katharine Dyson:
Kiel Christianson:
Is this article about the PGA as a major or a story on Phil?
Check the stats, 93 of the top 100 ranking...what other field can say that?
Majors are determined by field...not by tickets sold!
Keep to subject matter where you have a clue. Majors are not your area of expertise!
RB
Majors are not determined solely by field. The status of "major" is a nebulous equation, and I'm pretty sure you aren't the sole arbitrator, Robert.
So stick to what you obviously don't know, Robert.
Stick to selling burgers, something you have a remote clue about...it's your best gauge of "majors"...
He won at the British because it doesn't matter where you drive it as long as you are long. From 2nd shot on Tiger is simply the best at the moment.
At the PGA, you need to be able to drive the ball straight. That is where Tiger is suffering and if more major courses were set up like this Tiger would struggle more.
Phil had a wobble Saturday. He still has a great chance. I think Vijay will be tough on Sunday.
From the looks of the crowds at Baltusrol this week, public interest certainly exceeded any of your expectations.
Now, get back to something you gotta' clue about. We don't need senseless forecasts from two-bit writers like you.
The PGA CHAMPIONSHIP continues to lead all majors with top 100 players and gallery!
Better get your ticket early for Medinah next year!
Robert