Quote:
Originally Posted by Wazmankg
It's been awhile since anyone called Phil the next Nicklaus or a rival of Tiger for best in the game. Even Phil acknowledges that. But "slightly above average", "depths of mediocrity" ?? Preposterous ! Define those characterizations and assign some names to them for comparison's sake and we can have a conversation. He's the best golfer of his generation not named Tiger and a mortal lock for the World Golf Hall of Fame. Some mediocrity....
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The way Phil is playing now and has played since last winning a major is "slightly above average". So where's the argument? This year, Phil's won two tournaments. So has Anthony Kim and Kenny Perry has three. As far as overall impact on tournaments in general - especially when it comes to majors - Phil's name hardly has anyone shaking in their spikes. And I wrote:
"...but just as they all fell by the wayside, so has Phil fallen to the depths of mediocrity himself."
What? That's not true?
I'm not saying he was always mediocre nor am I suggesting that he will always be mediocre. What I am saying is that when Phil shows up for a tournament, I don't think many in the rest of the field even notice or care and THAT reeks of mediocrity. Phil has always said that there are more important things in life than golf and that while he enjoys competitive golf, it doesn't consume his life. Now whether he means that or is simply using it as a defense against his rather "nonthreatening" play, only he can say.
But from the point of view of what player makes the biggest impact on the game or stirs interest in the field of players at a given tournament, Phil -at this point in time - just doesn't do it. Quite frankly, with the possible exception of the first five years or so, he hasn't really had that kind of impact on the tour in the sixteen years or so that he's been there. Yes, he's won many tournaments and he has three majors, but he has never quite lived up to the reputation of "rival" or "antagonist" in the way that players like Trevino, Watson, Floyd and others did - especially in the majors.
-JP