Chris Baldwin - Latest Comments on Phil Mickelson's mystery Tour Championship bailout beneath Lefty

Mitch [Visitor] in response to: Phil Mickelson's mystery Tour Championship bailout beneath Lefty

Mitch [Visitor] — Tue, 22 Nov 2005 18:51:39 +0000

I agree that it is a contrived championship, but so is the Players Championship. Let's face it, all the regular PGA tournaments are about money. Each week has a lead sponsor and a bunch of sub-sponsors that want to showcase their coroporate image to the local folks and to a national audience. It's all about tv ratings, and the higher the ratings the higher the ad revenue that is generated, and the more money that's available to the players as prize money. The players are in it for the MONEY. I think the least they can do is play in a "TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP" for a lot of money, to help the PGA tour put on a season ending finale. This championship has produced big name winners like Tiger, Vijay, Phil and Retief, but it's also had winners like Bart Bryant, Chad Campbell and Billy Mayfair. I think it's great when someone that isn't recognized as one of the best in the world, can win against the top players on the PGA tour.

Shanks [Visitor] in response to: Phil Mickelson's mystery Tour Championship bailout beneath Lefty

Shanks [Visitor] — Thu, 17 Nov 2005 15:58:30 +0000

Mitch, you don't really think the Tour championship is about anything other than money, do you? It's a contrived ending to the season. A more appropriate comparison to a player skipping the World Series or Super Bowl would be for a player to skip one of the 4 Majors to go on a vacation. These are equivalent championships.

Mitch [Visitor] in response to: Phil Mickelson's mystery Tour Championship bailout beneath Lefty

Mitch [Visitor] — Wed, 16 Nov 2005 19:58:39 +0000

Phil is entitled to do what he wants, however, he is a member of the PGA Tour and I think the season ending Tour championship is something that everyone that qualifies should play in. I know it's not the same, but can you imagine if a player didn't want to play in the World Series or Super Bowl, just because they planned a family vacation during those dates.

Bob Kochman [Visitor] in response to: Phil Mickelson's mystery Tour Championship bailout beneath Lefty

Bob Kochman [Visitor] — Sun, 13 Nov 2005 22:18:39 +0000

The reason he didn't play is that he didn't want to play in the pro-am on Tuesday, which is mandatory - you don't play on Tuesday, you don't get a spot in the tournament. Phil didn't want to spend a week away from home in San Deigo. If he still had a chance to win player of the year or the money title, he would have been there.

Norman [Visitor] in response to: Phil Mickelson's mystery Tour Championship bailout beneath Lefty

Norman [Visitor] — Fri, 11 Nov 2005 21:44:24 +0000

I think the world golf tournaments are pretty important too. They are to Tiger anyway.

Then you go down the list to tournaments like a the player's championship, and end of season championships for both the PGA and european pga tours.

For instance, Paul McGinley won the Volvo Masters and said he was delighted because it is such a big tournament, which is true for him, but maybe not true for Tiger.

Shanks [Visitor] in response to: Phil Mickelson's mystery Tour Championship bailout beneath Lefty

Shanks [Visitor] — Thu, 10 Nov 2005 20:40:00 +0000

I think Phil has got it right. The Majors are where it's at. The team competitions are different and also awesome. I'm sure he wouldn't want to miss those. But nothing else is a MUST play. If he had a shot at the money title, I'm sure he would've been there. But otherwise, what's the big deal? It's just another tournament.

Denver Player [Visitor] in response to: Phil Mickelson's mystery Tour Championship bailout beneath Lefty

Denver Player [Visitor] — Thu, 10 Nov 2005 01:25:25 +0000

Chris,

Point is, Phil doesn't owe anyone anything, least of all an explanation beyond "personal reasons."

And as far as Phil "advancing his image", I think you perceive Phil in a very cynical light. Which is your right as an individual, but calls into question your objectivity as a writer.

Shanks [Visitor] in response to: Phil Mickelson's mystery Tour Championship bailout beneath Lefty

Shanks [Visitor] — Wed, 09 Nov 2005 16:53:50 +0000

John, If someone here in the US says anything about "The Open", most folks here in the US will assume they mean our national championship, because naturally it is more popular here in the US than The Open Championship. And to be honest, it seems to me that the US Open is viewed by most over here as slightly more significant too. Not me personally. I've been to the UK, played a lot of links golf and fully appreciate the fantastic challenge it presents. So do all of the top US golfers, except for the occasional whiner like Scott Hoch.