his ‘Career Slam’ with a Masters win and also a ‘Rory Slam’ if he were to win the U.S. Open at Chambers Bay in June. And now, as the sole cover boy on EA Sports PGA TOUR video game, McIlroy has indeed replaced Woods in the eyes of young golfers, as Woods had been on EA’s video game cover since 1998. Up-and-coming Americans like Brooks Koepka, who won in Phoenix, Patrick Reed, who won at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions, Jordan Spieth, who won the Valspar Championship, and a resurgent Dustin Johnson, who won the WGC at Doral, are not only winning hearts with their aggressive go-for-broke play, they are part of the much desired 25-34 demographic. Woods is coming up on 7 years since he won his 14th Major, an unforgettable win on one leg at Torrey Pines and his injuries are too numerous to mention, from a wrecked knee to a bad back to glutes that deactivate in the cold and don’t reactivate when Woods wants them to… whatever that means. As for Mickelson, his 2013 British Open came out of nowhere, so unexpected and such a careertopping highlight that even if he doesn’t complete the ‘Career Slam’ by winning the U.S. Open, a tournament he’s been runner-up a record six times, he’ll still have validated himself as one of the greats of all time.
A clearly flummoxed Mickelson talked to the media after missing the cut in his hometown tournament and his honesty was telling. “It’s very frustrating for me right now,” said Mickelson. “I felt
A Frustrated Phil Mickelson Is Hoping A Resurgence In His Putting Will Put Things Right For Him In 2015 really ready to start the year and these first few weeks have been very poor. . . My putting is beyond pathetic and if I can’t get back to the levels of 2013, I’m not sure what I’m going to do because this is very frustrating.” Compare that to Woods’ comments upon leaving San Diego when he withdrew on the 12th green. “It’s frustrating that I just can’t stay activated. That’s just kind of the way it is,” said Woods. And if you haven’t heard the word
‘frustrated’ enough, here’s more from Mickelson, “I’m frustrated. I’m down because I see other parts of my game do very well,” he said, “But putting as bad as I have, it starts to creep in to some of the other areas too. It will take some not only fundamental change, but it will take some good low rounds and some hot putting streaks to get confidence back,” Mickelson finished. With the major season starting this week At Augusta, the question of which Tiger Woods will appear during the Masters is one at the top of mind for all golf fans. Will we see the ‘chili-dipping’ Woods who can’t break 80 or will we see the 14-time Major champion? There’s little evidence that Woods’ current game is in the same ballpark as McIlroy, Johnson or Spieth, but it’s also hard to believe Woods won’t win another Major. As for Mickelson, will we see the Champion Golfer of the Year or will we see the guy who publicly skewered his Ryder Cup Captain, Tom Watson, and looks to be the ringleader/de facto leader of the 2016 Ryder Cup Team? This all may be a moot point if Mickelson completes his Career Slam or Woods wins Major #15. All we know is that they will be compelling figures to watch this season. The Scorecard 55