Mickelson talks Scottish Open, and No.1
Phil Mickelson is spending his time concentrating and mentally preparing for the Scottish Open. If he pulls off a win, or even second place, Mickelson will outrank Tiger Woods as the world number one golfer. But it’s not about the race.
“It would be cool, but it’s not something I’m thinking about,” said the American golfer of leapfrogging Woods to get to number one. Mickelson, 40, believes that winning the Scottish Open is more important than world rankings. He has come close to winning the tournament in the past, as he has also had chances of out-ranking Woods as well.
“It would mean a lot to me to break through and finally win,” he said of the Scottish Open.
Mickelson is ranked as the world’s No. 2 golfer, and has been since the end of last year. He first attained the ranking in 2000 after winning four Tour events. He maintained his status throughout 2001and 2002 before Vijay Singh took it from him.
Mickelson was win-less for the 2003 season, a poor year for the golfer, finishing 38th on the money list. But Mickelson recovered in 2004 and won the Masters, his first Major championship. That year he wound up in third place on the Tour money list.
Woods wasn’t always at number one either. He was replaced by Singh in 2004 after the latter had a very good season. This knocked Mickelson back to third place for 2004–05. The lefty, who is actually right-handed but acquired his nickname for his left-handed swing, won his second Majors in 2005 at the PGA Championship held in Baltusrol.
Mickelson was bumped up to second place again in 2006 after winning his second Masters tournament. Jim Furyk grabbed the spot from him after a terrible performance at the 2006 US Open at Winged Foot. Mickelson was poised to win and the favourite of most spectators. He missed 12 fairways, and botched his tee shot too far to the left, caroming the ball off a corporate hospitality tent. He finished at 6-over 286.
“I’m still in shock that I did that. I just can’t believe that I did that . . . I’m such an idiot.”
Mickelson didn’t recover well after the Winged Foot fiasco. He didn’t win another PGA event that season and took the final months of the year to regroup out of the spotlight. Furyk held the number two spot for the remainder of the year.
In 2007, refreshed and playing at top form again, Mickelson won the Players Championship and regained the No. 2 spot. He has held onto it since then and has been making good headway for the No. 1 spot.
Mickelson missed the chance to outrank Woods at the 2010 US Open. Woods has held onto the top spot for five years now, and Mickelson has been his biggest competitor as of late. The Scottish Open is Mickelson’s best shot at taking the title, though he has been playing better than Woods for a while now.
At Loch Lomond in 2007 Mickelson was runner up, so his chances on the course this year are very good. He admitted he wanted more time on the course to practice, and after the harsh winter in the UK there have been fears about the conditions of the greens. Mickelson isn’t worried:
“I haven’t played it yet but the course looks lush, green and beautiful.”
For personal reasons he did not reveal, Mickelson was unable to arrive in Scotland with time for practice rounds. He will be playing the course for the first time when the tournament opens on Wednesday. The tournament concludes on Sunday.
Mickelson is a practical man, and doesn’t want to get caught up in the dream of winning the No. 1 spot. When asked what he thinks about finally ending his 250 week stint at No. 2, he replied:
“Let’s not talk hypotheticals and I will tell you on Sunday if it happens.”
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