Phil Mickelson gave Tiger Woods what amounted to a five-hour playing lesson Sunday at impossibly photogenic Pebble Beach. For Lefty, the spotless 8-under 64 he fashioned was golf’s round of the year to date and amounted to a highlight film. For Woods, who once owned Mickelson and Sundays, it was not a pretty picture.
Mickelson’s two-shot victory over runnerup Charlie Wi was the 40th of his PGA Tour career and his first since before last year’s Masters. Speaking of which, Mickelson is now the new smart money for that annual rite of spring in Augusta less than two months away.
For Tiger, who hasn’t won on Tour since 2009, the desultory 75 he carded in the same group with Phil was yet another new low and further extended open season for his growing legion of critics. The cheapest shot came from the wiseguy who insisted on referring to the pro-am team of Tiger and his Dallas quarterback playing partner as “Romo and Romeo.”
Ouch.
Sunday was also another low blow to Woods’ credibility. How much longer can he tell us about the “process” and how he’s getting “closer” and expect us not to look away in embarrassment?
Meanwhile, in Dubai, Sunday was supposed to be a desert duel between Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood. Rafael Cabrera-Bello won instead. And in Australia, the LPGA kicked off 2012 at Royal Melbourne where 18-year-old Jessica Korda survived a six-woman playoff and two extra holes for her first win as a professional.
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A Letter from the Publisher
