Phil Mickelson eliminated in World Match Play, did he ever want to be here?

MARANA, Ariz. - Too bad Phil Mickelson’s not a tree falling in the forest. Maybe then nobody would notice that he just got bounced from a tournament he never really seemed fully committed to - the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship.

Maybe Phil couldn’t have withstood the onslaught of birdies Stuart Appleby threw at him (nine in just 17 holes) in the second round even if he did seem engaged in this tournament. But the fact he showed up at the Gallery Golf Club at Dove Mountain for the first time Tuesday afternoon, made the curious decision to not play a single practice round and seemed downright grumpy that first day (especially by his usual happy standards) surely didn’t help.

Winning at Riviera seemed to take away Mickelson’s fire this week (you could say that’s yet another glaring difference between him and Tiger Woods if Tiger didn’t so rarely play two weeks in a row these days). Sure, there’s the need for a little decompression after Sunday’s final round. But Los Angeles is not the far a flight from Tucson. Either is San Diego.

Again, late Tuesday?

At least, Mickelson gets a quick trip home.

All the fans wanted to see Tiger vs. Phil in that 36-hole Sunday finale. But did Phil really want that?

From here, it sure doesn’t appear so.

No matter who much Phil rationalizes it.

“We both played well,” he said moments ago. “It was a great match.”

Maybe. But only one of the players in it seemed fully committed to the week.