[Chris Kane]

Chris, the second rumour involved a hooker didn't it? Again, no idea if they were true or not, but interesting nonetheless.

The version I heard involved a hooker.  At the time the rumour was 'confirmed' to a mate of mine by a top 10 player...but I haven't heard much of it since.

[Mike Wagner]

.

[Scott Coan]

All the Phil haters and rumor mongers, spare a few moments and listen to this Brad Faxon interview:

http://audio.weei.com/m/30260946/brad-faxon-pga-tour.htm

To surmise, "Are we going to find out one day that Phil is as big a fraud as Tiger?".  Brad Faxon:  NO WAY.

Brad's a pretty standup guy and tends to tell it like it is.

[Bill_McBride]

Chris, the second rumour involved a hooker didn't it? Again, no idea if they were true or not, but interesting nonetheless.

The version I heard involved a hooker.  At the time the rumour was 'confirmed' to a mate of mine by a top 10 player...but I haven't heard much of it since.

His big misses are usually left............    Not sure about this hooker stuff.

[Joel Zuckerman]

I am a fan of Phil, but must say, since this subject has come up, that there has been a trace of a whiff of a controversy brought to my attention by others in the golf-writing field having to do with a "dangerous liason" in Ohio at some past juncture, supposedly involving a former Miss Ohio, which might be the reason that kept Phil OUT of The Memorial for a number of years in the '90s.  The record will show he missed Jack's bash in 2000, '01, '03, '04 and '05, so feel free to make of this what you might.

[Sean Leary]

David,

While I agree with you, I often believe where there is smoke there is fire.

[Jim_Kennedy]

I am a fan of Phil, but must say, since this subject has come up, that there has been a trace of a whiff of a controversy brought to my attention by others in the golf-writing field having to do with a "dangerous liason" in Ohio at some past juncture, supposedly involving a former Miss Ohio, which might be the reason that kept Phil OUT of The Memorial for a number of years in the '90s.  The record will show he missed Jack's bash in 2000, '01, '03, '04 and '05, so feel free to make of this what you might.

Is your degree in yellow journalism or muckraking? 

[Will MacEwen]

I am a fan of Phil, but must say, since this subject has come up, that there has been a trace of a whiff of a controversy brought to my attention by others in the golf-writing field having to do with a "dangerous liason" in Ohio at some past juncture, supposedly involving a former Miss Ohio, which might be the reason that kept Phil OUT of The Memorial for a number of years in the '90s.  The record will show he missed Jack's bash in 2000, '01, '03, '04 and '05, so feel free to make of this what you might.

What do you make of the fact that he played in Akron every year since 1999?

[Scott Warren]

I find it amusing that Chris Kane and Shane Gurnett are regularly outraged if someone dares to make a comment about a golf course they haven't played, or haven't played enough times, but they see no issue rumour mongering over $100m gambling debts and a child conceived with a hooker behind a wife's back.

Funny too, because Chris has made time to get stuck into the media before for its lack of morals. Good to see he has the sordid salaciousness of a National Enquirer reporter in him.

[Gregg Evans]

I know first hand a past Mid Amateur winner who would argue with the haters.
A certain winner froma several yrs back  who has not given me his permission to identify him( so I won't )was at his desk in the Winter and was told "Phil Mickelson calling for you" by his secretary. It was, indeed, PM ,with a totally unsolicited offer to meet him at ANGC for practice and a request that he hold some practice rounds on Monday and Tuesday available unless he had other plans.
Mickelson went accordingly well out of his way to fulfill his offer to show said amateur the ropes and they played at least two practice rounds together during the tournament week.
That's a giving spirit, I don't care who you are.

[Steve Wilson]

Sometimes where there's smoke there's a smoke making machine.

[Jerry Kluger]

I think that maybe now people will take a second look at Phil's decision to try a punch 3 iron second shot on the 18th at Winged Foot. He played a far more difficult shot at #13 on Sunday and Tiger didn't execute when he tried a heroic second shot out of the pine needles but no one challenged his decision. Guys like Phil and Tiger have so much confidence in their game that no matter the shot they feel they can execute the shot. 

[Brian Freeman]

Jerry,

You make a good point.  Remember '07, the Zach Johnson victory year, when Tiger tried to hit the crazy slice around the pines on #15 and dunked it?  That was certainly a much more questionable move than Phil on #13, in fact I'd put it up there with the Bay Hill #16 Phil shot that gets played over and over again.  One of the worst decisions I've ever seen, a pitch out and layup birdie and he was still in it.  But Tiger doesn't get criticized for those things.

[Sean Leary]

Jerry,

You make a good point.  Remember '07, the Zach Johnson victory year, when Tiger tried to hit the crazy slice around the pines on #15 and dunked it?  That was certainly a much more questionable move than Phil on #13, in fact I'd put it up there with the Bay Hill #16 Phil shot that gets played over and over again.  One of the worst decisions I've ever seen, a pitch out and layup birdie and he was still in it.  But Tiger doesn't get criticized for those things.

Wasn't tiger behind though? Different type of decision.

[Sean Leary]

Sometimes where there's smoke there's a smoke making machine.

Agreed.  I just wouldn't be surprised, thats all.

[Rick Shefchik]

All I've gathered from this thread is that Mickelson comports himself like a gentleman on the golf course, regardless of what's been going on in his private live. If that's fake, I'm beginning to appreciate it.

We had no idea what was going in Tiger's life over the past decade, and his comportmant on the golf course was often questionable. I've learned not to assume what these guys are really like off the course. I'll take them at face value.

[Joel Zuckerman]

What do you make of the fact that he played in Akron every year since 1999?

I dunno what to make of it...other than Akron is 125 miles away from Columbus and The Memorial.

As stated previously, I like Mickelson, and wouldn't have brought up th e whisper of that sordid little story unless this topic was raised.

Frankly---the story I mentioned, while totally unsubstantiated, reminds me greatly of the famous Kevin Costner--Cal Ripken dust-up in the '90s, which might be familiar to some of you.

Sounds too salacious to be true, but I've heard the Ripken--Costner fable from a range of pro athletes and other sportswriters and sportscasters at different times and places, so one wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't something of an underlying truth or platform to the rumor.  Same could be true of Phil, for all any of us knows.

[Jim_Kennedy]

What do you make of the fact that he played in Akron every year since 1999?

I dunno what to make of it...other than Akron is 125 miles away from Columbus and The Memorial.

As stated previously, I like Mickelson, and wouldn't have brought up th e whisper of that sordid little story unless this topic was raised.

Frankly---the story I mentioned, while totally unsubstantiated, reminds me greatly of the famous Kevin Costner--Cal Ripken dust-up in the '90s, which might be familiar to some of you.

Sounds too salacious to be true, but I've heard the Ripken--Costner fable from a range of pro athletes and other sportswriters and sportscasters at different times and places, so one wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't something of an underlying truth or platform to the rumor.  Same could be true of Phil, for all any of us knows.

Baloney, if you were only 'mentioning' it then you wouldn't have taken the time to try and add some substance to the rumor by saying, and I'm quoting you: "The record will show he missed Jack's bash in 2000, '01, '03, '04 and '05, so feel free to make of this what you might".

That's journalism of the most yellow stripe, and despicable. It's the same type of garbage found in the New York Post or the National Enquirer. You have no proof,  yet you're willing to smear a man with your pen.

It's too bad that sportswriters can't be disbarred from their profession, you deserve to be.

[Kevin_Reilly]

Joel Z, the Ripken-Costner "dust-up" sounds like one of those Richard Gere or David Bowie stories.

http://www.snopes.com/movies/actors/costner.asp

[Pat Burke]

My Take.  I was fortunate to play a few practice rounds with Phil.  I also played a few rounds with him at one of the courses he practiced at when trying to come back from my injury.  The "press and tv" Phil is different from the guy I played with.  The public Phil works very hard to try to say the right things, because it is good for his marketability, and the Tour.  He does a great job with the public.
The private Phil IMO, is actually more fun.  He's a bit of a smart ass, is very direct, and will compete with you on anything on the course.  He'll bust your chops for screwing up, and is happy to argue about anything, while not taking it, or getting personal about it.
He is very generous privately (I will not elaborate), and personally, I related on this board before, when I was trying to play again after my surgery, he was very good to me, and tried to be helpful.  My game wasn't ready to take advantage of the help .
Rumors are rumors, and Phil, as an outspoken guy definitely rankled feathers at players meetings, because he (unlike many big players) would openly say what he thought about Tour policies.   We disagreed on many of the Tour policies, argued about it when we played, and he invited me back the next day to play (and argue ).  My experiences with Phil have only led me to pray for Amy, and hope everything turns out well, I believe he would wish the same for most

[Kevin_Reilly]

My Take.  I was fortunate to play a few practice rounds with Phil.  I also played a few rounds with him at one of the courses he practiced at when trying to come back from my injury.  The "press and tv" Phil is different from the guy I played with.  The public Phil works very hard to try to say the right things, because it is good for his marketability, and the Tour.  He does a great job with the public.
The private Phil IMO, is actually more fun.  He's a bit of a smart ass, is very direct, and will compete with you on anything on the course.  He'll bust your chops for screwing up, and is happy to argue about anything, while not taking it, or getting personal about it.
He is very generous privately (I will not elaborate), and personally, I related on this board before, when I was trying to play again after my surgery, he was very good to me, and tried to be helpful.  My game wasn't ready to take advantage of the help .
Rumors are rumors, and Phil, as an outspoken guy definitely rankled feathers at players meetings, because he (unlike many big players) would openly say what he thought about Tour policies.   We disagreed on many of the Tour policies, argued about it when we played, and he invited me back the next day to play (and argue ).  My experiences with Phil have only led me to pray for Amy, and hope everything turns out well, I believe he would wish the same for most

Amen, unless someone who watched the Masters in 3D feels more qualified to weigh in on this.

[Sean Leary]

Another perspective...

http://msn.foxsports.com/golf/story/be-careful-casting-phil-as-anti-tiger

[Matthew Petersen]

Deadspin just did an interesting piece on that Mickelson rumors and where they seem to originate from. Funnily enough, their piece also mentions that old Ripken/Costner story.

http://deadspin.com/5515170/how-did-that-false-amy-mickelson+michael-jordan-rumor-start-anyway

[Shane Gurnett]

I find it amusing that Chris Kane and Shane Gurnett are regularly outraged if someone dares to make a comment about a golf course they haven't played, or haven't played enough times, but they see no issue rumour mongering over $100m gambling debts and a child conceived with a hooker behind a wife's back.

Scott, thats because architectural hearsay is by far a greater crime than anything Phil may or may not have done.

Anyway, you're a journo, do some digging. You might be the one to break to stroy wide open and become famous.

Shane.

PS. Not a Phil hater.

[JLahrman]

Another perspective...

http://msn.foxsports.com/golf/story/be-careful-casting-phil-as-anti-tiger

This is a good read.  Even people who know Mickelson would give you mixed messages about how good of a guy or not he is.  If you asked my coworkers about me you'd probably get a range of opinions as well.  But that's not going to stop the media from trying to put a white hat on him.  The Phil-is-good while Tiger-is-bad is just too convenient.  Never mind the lessons that we should all have learned by now about putting people on a superior moral pedestal simply because they demonstrate superior athletic ability.  Like most any public figure, Phil probably is not as bad a guy as his detractors think and is not as good as his super-devoted fans believe.  He's an interesting character who just won a major golf tournament while supporting his ill wife.  That's about it.

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