Good Read: "Mickelson dances golf's invisible line"

Phil Mickelson, who opened with a 2-under-par 70 in the windy afternoon conditions at St. Andrews, is profiled by ESPN.com's Kevin Van Valkenburg as the 2013 Open Champion "dances with golf's invisible line."

There is plenty of good stuff here, including this:

Mickelson said he and his wife, Amy, laughed recently when they remembered how upset they were 20 years ago when he wasn't included in a magazine story prior to the PGA Championship listing the game's "young guns." Justin Leonard was in there, and so was David Duval, but not Mickelson. Amy was so upset about it, she even walked up to the writer at the tournament and confronted him about it.

"We look back on that and we laugh," Mickelson said. "We were so immature that we felt we had to have input and say in every little thing." His face has grown noticeably weathered in recent years. Up close, his cheeks are pink and splotchy in spots, a visible consequence that comes from having spent the past four decades walking golf courses around the world, soaking up the taxing rays of the sun. There are small bags under his eyes, and he bends at the waist to read putts instead of at the knees, a telltale sign that the years, and all those steps, are adding up.

Comments

[Jess Daddio]

"We look back on that and we laugh," Mickelson said. "We were so immature that we felt we had to have input and say in every little thing."

Except in the case of the Ryder Cup captain's faults. That's obviously different, eh Phil?

[digsouth]

Good story. Spieth's comments to PM were classic. I gotta admit, raking the bunker- I doubtt if I would have done it in those conditions.

I keep thinking Phil's stamina dealing with the Arthritus is a major factor in his inability to finish the deal. And the PGA royally jacked the group around letting Rory and his group use the light.

As to the Watson slam- bad timing for certain, but passion overides judgement sometimes, and if Watson has said that, then a couple of trolls certainly have no say.

and Gabe- no- you're not.

[Jess Daddio]

Doesn't that mean he's still immature then Digsouth?

[Press Agent]

@ Jess, Yes, No, maybe so. Who cares? He's Phil Mickelson..... and you're not. No matter what anyone says in hindsight or when feeling bad, Tom Watson was a tired old man for the Ryder Cup and did a horrible job as a captain. Maybe the blame lies in those who picked him for captain, but Watson clearly wasn't up for the task. Mickelson said so in the heat of the moment - bad manners, so sorry. He was a pro golfer who wanted to win the Ryder Cup, not miss Manners watching his etiquette. If only we could all be as immature as Phil, then we could be playing in the Open instead of posting on a blog.

[Jess Daddio]

Oh thanks Digsou, I mean Press Agent, even though I didn't ask you. That sure is a well thought out answer though." He's Phil Mickelson..... and you're not" Pure genious.

[digsouth]

Jess-

I don;t know, and I don't care.

[nancy]

@Press Agent - I do agree to a point. I think the blame does go with selecting Tom for the Captain. Phil is just Phil and he says what's on his mind; bad timing and bad on Phil at that press conference. However, he is Phil...fun to watch. I saw on ESPN the other day...they showed Phil walking off the course at the end of the day, by himself...just walking back to his hotel. Wonder what he was thinking.

[BrianS]

Who would have thought that starting Jan 1, 2006, and counting that Tiger and Phil would be equal in terms of majors won ? And that Phil would have the last 2 ? Amazing career, if it is in fact closing down, he has nothing to explain or justify.

[BrianS]

Whoops, I meant Aug, 2005 (to include 2005 PGA).

[Birdman]

Phil very nearly won the PGA last year. Career in majors over? He needs those majors to get motivated to train to be good enough to win a major. He is in very good shape. His swing speed is near his peak. His putting has been his weakness. Phil the thrill. Don't count him out just yet. Isn't 45 the new 40? Just ask Vijay Singh who was awesome in his early forties.

@Jess and @Digsouth. Thanks for the entertaining posts. Good
stuff.

@PressAgent. Well said. It is still a mystery why Larry Nelson was never selected as Ryder Cup Captain, especially with his stellar record in that "fifth major". He was promised, if he acquiesced to Tom Kite, the next captaincy, but that never materialized. He served our country with great honor leading a large group of specially trained soldiers into combat with major loss of life. No wonder he was so good under pressure. Major championship pressure or even Ryder Cup pressurs, playing for your country, has absolutely nothing over going into combat for your country. I doubt any American player having won a major has served his country with greater distinction in battle than Larry Nelson. A class act he is.