What with the Masters about to happen, I was just thinking about which golfer I'll be rooting for. To me the answer is obvious. Sure, this guy doesn't have tiger blood and he's not a warlock. And no, he is not a "frickin' rockstar from Mars." Actually, he's the kind of guy you look at and say, "He could be my next door neighbor." You could see him outside mowing the lawn, and he would be the guy who has a neighborhood barbeque. My favorite golfer of all time is Phil Mickelson.
In a golf world filled with pouting Tigers and cocky Bubba Watsons, Phil Mickelson is a breath of fresh air. The first time I saw him golf on television was a few years ago. He wasn't having the best game of his life, but hey, the guy knows how to handle himself and was just out to play. He lined up his shot and whams the ball into the air and plop. On the green.
What a pro.
But that's not what made me like him. Most golfers leave huge divots in the ground and let their caddies take care of it. But Phil, he walks over to the chunk of grass and dirt, picks it up, sets it back and stomps on it. Then he gives his caddy a thump on the back and a smile as they walk to the green. It was the subtlest of actions that made me take notice.
The guy is a class act.
Most people would curl up and give up in a time of personal crisis, but when Mickelson's wife and mother were diagnosed with cancer a couple years ago, he took time off to be with them. While Tiger Woods was under fire for his millions of mistresses and inevitable divorce, Phil was quietly taking care of his kin and being the ultimate family man. He's the guy you want to root for. Is he a perfect golfer? No way. But it's his flaws that humanize him and make him one of the best golfers of our time.
My eye is on you for the Masters this weekend Phil, even if you're not a "bitchin' rockstar from Mars,"
Perfect Vision
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