Lefty, wherefore art thou?

I spent last weekend at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, and lefty–as far as the media was concerned–was pretty much nowhere to be found.

As a lefty and a rabid Phil fan since I was about 6 years old, I will be the first to defend the now Masters champ, but last week’s inaccessibility holds no excuses, at least as far as I know. While other players gladly granted press conferences in the first rounds of the five-round jaunt, talking to Mickelson proved as hard as watching David Duval hack it around to a 10-over-par 82 in the first round (one of only 13 above par after the first round, a mere 18 shots back from the leaders and 23 shots worse than his 59 on the same course in 1999).

And it wasn’t his PR rep’s fault. T.R. told Phil. It simply came down to Phil not listening. Say it ain’t so, Phil. What’s happening? Why is the articulate San Diegan reverting into prima donna status? I’ve always like Phil. Is my like-affair over? What’s Lefty’s deal?