Tiger and Phil can turn back time at Augusta
THINK back to just over a month ago, when time’s passing appeared ready to claim another victim with Phil mickelson on the brink of falling outside the world’s top 50 for the first time since 1994. Tiger Woods was about to start another comeback where you wondered whether he’d last 18 holes, much less the tournament.
The idea then that the two great masters of their generation, with seven green jackets between them, could somehow duel for another by the time we reached Augusta national in April, much like roger Federer and rafa nadal at the Australian open last year, would have been laughed out of the clubhouse.
now it’s emerged as another great storyline possibility as the pair brush up their Dorian Gray impressions. Woods, seemingly rebuilt, is playing the next two weeks, looking to add to the momentum he established at the Honda Classic recently.
Then there’s Phil, who’s presently achieving things that are simply astonishing for a man who will turn 48 in June. Far from falling outside the top 50, he’s now back inside the top 20 after his emotional victory in the WGC-mexico Championship on Sunday, following a play- off against fellow American Justin Thomas, who’s barely half his age.
neither was it a one-off blast from the past. In his three previous starts, mickelson had finished T5-T2-T6, making it the most consistent burst of form in his career. Afterwards, he sounded like a man who’d found the keys to the golfing universe.
‘I believe it is going to continue to get better,’ he said. ‘This validation of what I’m working on means a lot, but I don’t think it’s the apex or the peak, by any means.’
With a chance to rewrite the record books at the majors this year and the ryder Cup, it’s hardly surprising the buoyant Californian is thinking in such terms. one of the mind-boggling feats of his storied career is the fact that he has played in 11 consecutive ryder Cups without needing a captain’s wild card. now he’s up to fourth in the latest standings — the leading eight qualify automatically — meaning he’s in prime position to stretch that run to 24 years of qualifying off his own bat.
At the masters, he will try to become the oldest winner of the season’s first major, and in June he will attempt once more to complete the career Grand Slam at the US open, an event where he has finished runner-up on no fewer than six occasions.
Why is he a contender again, at such an unlikely age? off the tee, he has found 20 extra yards thanks to greater flexibility, while on the greens he holed an amazing 123 out of 128 putts under 10ft last week. no wonder he’s confident of pushing the boundaries still further.
The year of Tiger and Phil? You certainly wouldn’t put it past either coming up with a highlight moment or two this summer that utterly transcends their chosen sport.