Tiger, Lefty still have what it takes to prevail
LOS ANGELES — Tiger Woods will play alongside Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas on Thursday and Friday at the Genesis Open. That’s a cool contrast — Woods competing against much younger players who were inspired by his transcendent success early in his career.
Phil Mickelson, similarly, will play in the same group as Jordan Spieth and Xander Schauffele. Mickelson, at 48, is a generation ahead of Spieth and Schauffele (both 25), old enough to be their father.
This is one of golf’s enduring beauties, recreationally and, to some extent, at the game’s highest level. Age is no barrier. Generations connect on the course. And maybe they even grapple for major championships.
Woods and Mickelson are in tantalizing spots right now, two months ahead of the Masters.
Woods contended in the last two majors of 2018 and won the Tour Championship in September. He’s clearly not done.
Mickelson nearly won the Desert Classic last month outside Palm Springs, and he did win the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on Monday. Lefty is defying the outer boundaries of his career, only 16 months from turning 50.
“I just think both myself and Tiger are going to have a really, really good year this year,” Mickelson said after completing his victory at Pebble Beach.
Let’s hope he’s right. Just picture Woods tussling with McIlroy and Thomas at Augusta National in April. Or Mickelson trying to fend off Spieth and Schauffele — or, say, two-time U.S. Open champion Brooks Koepka — at Pebble Beach in June.
Woods and Mickelson bring star power, history and familiarity. They will leave the game in good hands when they fade from prominence, but their contention in marquee events still adds a welcome layer of electricity.
Davis Love III considered Mickelson’s longevity last week, while standing in the rain after his round at Spyglass Hill. Love has some credibility on this topic: He became the third-oldest winner in PGA Tour history (at 51 years, 4 months), and the oldest since 1975, when he won the Wyndham Championship in 2015.
“He’s going to do whatever it takes,” Love said of Mickelson. “He comes up with new theories on diets and exercise. But he looks good, as fit as I’ve seen him in a while. … He’s always going to try to find a way.
“We give him a hard time about it, too. He’s always looking for an edge, an angle, a way to get better. That’s why he’s won 40whatever times.”
Love’s point about Mickelson always seeking an “edge” was evident Sunday, when he tried to convince Paul Casey that they could keep playing in the dark. The look of disgust on Mickelson’s face when the horn sounded was priceless and, well, kind of ridiculous.
Monday, after completing his win, he backtracked. Mickelson belatedly acknowledged the wisdom of stopping Sunday and returning the next morning to finish in bright sunshine on fresh greens.
“Sometimes, I just get in my own little bubble and I don’t see the big picture,” he said. “I was playing well and wanted to finish. … I ended up thanking (Casey) this morning for making that tough call.”
Mickelson now stands at 44 career wins and Woods at 80. Do not be surprised if those numbers rise by year’s end.