In appreciation of Lefty
Lefty had it going on Thursday in the opening round of the British Open at Royal Troon in Scotland.
Phil Mickelson, arguably the most talented golfer of this generation, was at his signature, sizzling best, with birdies dropping like lead balloons en route to a major tournament record-tying low round of 63. Every bounce seemed to go his way, and it looked like he was putting into the grand canyon, dropping eight birdies, many from way downtown.
A clean bogey-free round, maybe one of his best ever, and an early three stroke lead at a major. Phil must have been on cloud nine, right?
Not so fast, this is golf we’re talking about, the game about which it has been said you can never truly beat.
Despite playing a brand of golf select few have ever done, all Mickelson could think about after the round was what might have been. Alas, that’s golf for you.
His 18 foot birdie putt on the 18th hole, which would have given him a Majors record 62 and legendary status, instead lipped out after darting right in the final foot before the cup. Now he’s merely one of 26 pros to shoot 63 in a Major, joining the ho-hum likes of Bruce Crampton, Mark Hayes, Paul Broadhurst and Hiroshi Iwata to accomplish the feat since Johnny Miller first did at the U.S. Open in 1973.
After the round, Mickelson said he felt like crying, that it felt like heartbreak, and that he wanted to shed a tear at the thought of just missing out on history. The 62 brilliant shots that came before will be foreever trumped in memory by the lip out on 18.
There are some good local golfers in Sandpoint, from current Storeridge pro Mike Deprez, to Russ Brisboy, to Tye Barlow, to Matt Mire to Jim Lewis. It’s a safe bet all of them know exactly why Mickelson felt disappointment. Even during the best rounds, there is always a shot or two you want back, or a putt you left an inch short, or that tree you hit.
The Sandpoint boys golf team is young and chock full of talented sticks, and with the right breaks, could challenge for a state trophy in the future. But how many times do they walk off 18 thinking things like “if I hadn’t three putted twice, or if I hadn’t hit OB on that hole, or if I hadn’t bounced into that sand trap. . .”
Probably always. So it goes with the game of golf, whose practitioners usually harbor a love-hate relationship.
One lousy missed putt, and one of the best rounds of golf ever is reduced to heartbreak.
But the highlight reel from Thursday, sans the last putt, was vintage Mickelson, the masterful shotmaking we love on full display. The same putter that has cost him countless major wins was on fire. The poor decisions, usually erring on the side of aggression, were no where to be found. The birdies dropped, until they didn’t.
Other than John Daly, when he was in his heyday, is there a more fun golfer to root for than Phil?
Is there a more pure swing on earth?
No and No.
Here’s hoping he stays locked in, and Lefty claims another major, holding off the young pups one more time.
The Bee-Attitudes runs periodically in the Daily Bee. Have something to say about any sport, of any length? Email it to “eplummer@bonnercountydailybee.com” for publication in the Bee.