Lefty’s right to put his family first
ANYONE tempted to knock Phil Mickelson for skipping the US Open to see his daughter graduate should look at his fallen former arch rival for a reminder of what truly matters.
The last week could not have painted a starker contrast between Mickelson and Tiger Woods.
His nemesis, who for so long had the upper hand and always seemed to have that little bit more than him – on the golf course at least.
Now you look at their lives and ask who is the richer man. Forget the squillions in Woods’s bank account, his 14 Majors to Lefty’s five and his place in the elite club of career Grand Slam winners.
By rejecting another chance to win the only Major to elude his grasp and join Woods in that band of legendary players, Mickelson has shown an understanding that some things are priceless, some moments too precious to miss.
After all, what’s the point of being celebrated in history by strangers if it comes at the price of moments those you love most will cherish forever?
In an increasingly hectic world it’s becoming harder to find the right work/life balance. Over the years Mickelson has sacrificed a lot to reach the privileged financial position where he can now afford to pick and choose his events.
But nevertheless giving this one a miss is a significant gesture.
The US Open after all is the last piece of the jigsaw – the Major that has dealt him so many kicks in the teeth having finished runner-up a record six times.
Make no mistake, it is the one he craves more than any other in order to complete the set that would see him remembered in history alongside Woods, Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus.
And at 46 years old his chances of doing so are diminishing fast.
Cynics might see his decision not to tee it up at Erin Hills as a recognition his game is not in sufficient shape to contend. But it would be foolish to discount the Californian’s ability to produce on the Major stage. He’s not hiding – he just has bigger fish to fry when the first round gets under way a week on Thursday.
Instead he’ll be sitting proudly in a high school in San Diego watching his daughter Amanda making a speech on behalf of her fellow graduates.
As he put it: “As I look back on life this is a moment I’ll always cherish and be glad I was present. There’s no greater joy as a parent.”
Not everyone would have made that choice but then again not every golfer has endured the turmoil the Mickelsons came through when Phil’s wife Amy was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009. Such scares bring perspective on the importance of never taking life or those you love for granted.
It’s often in the toughest of times you find such clarity so let’s hope Woods can summon the strength to get his life in order now he seemingly finds himself at his lowest ebb.
The images of him being arrested by police on a charge of driving under the influence were a shocking snapshot of the fragility of a sporting hero who once seemed invincible.
Thankfully the cruel mocking jibes that populated social media in the hours after have been largely drowned out by the humanity of the fair-minded.
Guys like Martin Kaymer who posted a terrific heartfelt video message calling for an end to the “nasty” comments and recognising Woods needs help.
Perhaps it’s the superhuman power of Woods in his prime that now makes some revel in the humbling frailty of a seemingly lost soul robbed by injury of the gift that made him great in the first place.
That’s nothing to celebrate or joke about. Let’s all please be kind.