The contrast could not have been more stark.
All week the focus swirling around Augusta National and The Masters golf tournament was on tiger Woods and his return to golf after a five-month self-banishment after a series of scandalous sexual affairs came to light.
But at the end of the day on Sunday, the single most compelling image of the weekend was winner Phil Mickelson walking off the 18th green and into the arms of his wife.
Unlike Woods, Mickelson was not sure if his wife would be there to greet him, but for very different reasons.
Amy Mickelson has been battling breast cancer. The medicine she has been taking kept her away from the course all week. But she was there for her husband as he captured his third green jacket.
As Mickelson exited the 18th green and headed for the scorer’s tent, he spotted his wife. They seemed to collapse in each other’s arms in a long, extended hug.
Woods finished his day about a half-hour earlier. He was given a rousing ovation by the faithful at Augusta. Woods made just enough mistakes over the weekend to keep him out of the lead. He was always lurking around, but his game is not there yet. Not surprising. That he was there at all after being away from the game is pretty amazing.
Woods left the 18th green to the cheers of the crowd, but his wife was nowhere to be found.
That’s probably not terribly surprising either.
Woods said he was disappointed because he didn’t win.
He said nothing about his personal strife. His weekend was all about golf.
Mickelson’s was all about family.
It’s a good story. No, make that a great story.
It’s a shame it was overshadowed by our preoccupation with Tiger.
I have to admit I have never really quite warmed up to Mickelson. I’m not sure why. I’ve always been a Tiger guy. I still am. But I gained a newfound respect for Mickelson yesterday.
And I cannot think of a more appropriate winner, a guy who is all about family. There’s probably not a lot Tiger Woods can learn from Phil Mickelson on the golf course.
Off the course, that’s another story.
All week the focus swirling around Augusta National and The Masters golf tournament was on tiger Woods and his return to golf after a five-month self-banishment after a series of scandalous sexual affairs came to light.
But at the end of the day on Sunday, the single most compelling image of the weekend was winner Phil Mickelson walking off the 18th green and into the arms of his wife.
Unlike Woods, Mickelson was not sure if his wife would be there to greet him, but for very different reasons.
Amy Mickelson has been battling breast cancer. The medicine she has been taking kept her away from the course all week. But she was there for her husband as he captured his third green jacket.
As Mickelson exited the 18th green and headed for the scorer’s tent, he spotted his wife. They seemed to collapse in each other’s arms in a long, extended hug.
Woods finished his day about a half-hour earlier. He was given a rousing ovation by the faithful at Augusta. Woods made just enough mistakes over the weekend to keep him out of the lead. He was always lurking around, but his game is not there yet. Not surprising. That he was there at all after being away from the game is pretty amazing.
Woods left the 18th green to the cheers of the crowd, but his wife was nowhere to be found.
That’s probably not terribly surprising either.
Woods said he was disappointed because he didn’t win.
He said nothing about his personal strife. His weekend was all about golf.
Mickelson’s was all about family.
It’s a good story. No, make that a great story.
It’s a shame it was overshadowed by our preoccupation with Tiger.
I have to admit I have never really quite warmed up to Mickelson. I’m not sure why. I’ve always been a Tiger guy. I still am. But I gained a newfound respect for Mickelson yesterday.
And I cannot think of a more appropriate winner, a guy who is all about family. There’s probably not a lot Tiger Woods can learn from Phil Mickelson on the golf course.
Off the course, that’s another story.
Comments