Phil: Tiger’s best golf will never be repeated
PONTE VEDRA BEACH: Tiger Woods in his prime played the best golf ever seen and it is highly unlikely those heights will ever be reached again, Phil Mickelson said on Tuesday ahead of this week’s Players Championship.
Mickelson traded friendly barbs with his old rival during their respective press conference at TPC Sawgrass, their relaxed demeanour a far cry from the days when, as the older American admitted, “it sucked” to have to face Woods on the course.
“I don’t think (we) will ever see that level of play again,” 47-year-old Mickelson said.
“It was the most remarkable golf in the history of the game and I think unrepeatable. “I think it was that good.” The once icy relationship between the multiple major winners has thawed since they hit their 40s, and they appeared genuinely pleased to be grouped together for the first two rounds here today and tomorrow.
They have played together only once at the Players Championship – in the third round in 2001 – when Woods was at the peak of the powers that brought him 14 major championships in barely a decade.
It was the era when Woods won the 2000 US Open at Pebble Beach by 15 strokes, a record performance Mickelson suspects some younger players do not fully appreciate.
“I look at 2000 as being kind of the benchmark at the US Open as being the greatest golf I’ve ever witnessed and I believe has ever been played,” said Mickelson.
“And it sucked to have to play against him.
“You look at it and say ‘how am I going to beat this?’. There was a stretch there that it was hard to imagine that it was actually happening, that he was hitting some of the shots that he was hitting.”
The hype over their grouping this week – they will play with another American in Rickie Fowler – prompted Mickelson to playfully suggest sidelining the other 142 players and deciding the title in a head-to-head winnertakes-all match.
“Fifteen years ago my record against him sucked, and now it’s okay,” Mickelson said, giving a bit of needle. “I’m doing better as time has gone on.”
Mickelson has won five majors, but also recorded 18 runner-up or third place finishes.
Asked about their rivalry, Woods smiled and suggested reporters kept an eye on the “big picture.”
“How many times have we won on tour?” the 42-yearold said, fully aware of the answer.
Woods has won 79 times on the PGA Tour, second only to Sam Snead’s 82 but well clear of Mickelson’s nonetoo-shabby 42 victories.
Chances are neither will add to those tallies this week, but for two days at least they will hog the limelight, two ageing heavyweights trying to keep pace with younger rivals who carry less baggage – and a lot less major silverware.
Meanwhile, Kiradech Aphibarnrat is dealing with a major dose of jet lag as he prepares for what he hopes is a top-10 finish at this week’s Players Championship, he said on Tuesday.
Kiradech arrived in Florida late on Monday after playing in the unofficial Golf Sixes in England at the weekend.
“I think my body is a little bit tired,” the world number 32 told Reuters after a long session on the range trying to work on shaping his irons shots. “I’m not playing great at the moment.”
Kiradech finished equal 44th at the US Masters last month before taking a couple of weeks off to spend with his family.
He missed the cut two years ago in his previous appearance at the Players Championship, but said he felt better about the course after playing the front nine on Tuesday.
“Last time I didn’t strike ball well,” he said.
“I know the course better than last time. I know where to miss, where to get the ball in play.” – Reuters