"Fun" Phil or "Safe" Mickelson?

One article on the Phil Mickelson website mentioned that "fun" Phil reappeared at Torrey Pines but will the "let it ride" or "safe" Mickelson attitude win more PGA Tour events this season?

On Sunday, Mickelson's play on the 18th hole at Torrey Pines gave fans mixed signals about what to expect from Lefty's game.

Did Mickelson make a hasty decision by carving a safe shot out of the rough before watching how Bubba Watson played the 18th? Should Phil have gone for the green or lay-up as he ultimately chose to do?

Mickelson's usual risk-taking attitude gave way to a safe out handing Watson his second victory. Although risk could have equaled reward, (an eagle and a playoff), it could have also equated to folly.  Perhaps Phil could have been thinking back to his 2006 US Open disaster in which he double-bogeyed the 18th hole at Winged Foot losing a one-stroke lead and dropping into a tie for second place.

As Phil said,
"I'm not ever going to forget it, that's obvious!"

Throwing around the word "strategy" hasn't come easy for Phil but, knowing the changes that have been made to Torrey Pines has made Mickelson more cautious about how to play the course.

"The biggest thing for me is I'm not taking on anywhere near as much risk," Phil explained Saturday after getting into a tie with Bill Haas. "I'm just playing it much more conservative, because the reward isn't there. This course doesn't reward you for taking on any challenge. And my more conservative approach into the greens, albeit boring, has led me to be on top of the leaderboard."

Although a conservative finish didn't get him the trophy, without the pressure of having to win on 18 Mickelson dazzled fans with a tremendous wedge to within three-feet of a tie. If the ball would have spun a little more, there could have been a playoff.

So, perhaps there is room for both fun Phil and safe Mickelson to co-exist with positive results?

 
Credit: Mickelson in 1980...fun Phil?

Looking ahead to this week's PGA Tour event, the Waste Management Open in Phoenix, Mickelson will be playing golf alongside fellow lefty Bubba Watson.

"I played really good golf and gave myself an opportunity," said Mickelson. "Played well on Sunday and had a good tournament. Hopefully, I'll use this as a springboard for (Phoenix)."  I wonder which Phil will be in attendance?

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Kodak and Devlin's Billabong Challenge Mickelson, Haas at Torrey Pines

The tricky par 5 18th at Torrey Pines South Course has been intimidating PGA Tour golfers the entire week. For Phil Mickelson and Bill Haas, this golf hole could be the deciding factor in who wins both the Farmers Insurance Open and this week's Kodak Challenge.

As the finishing hole at Torrey Pines, the long par-5 18th hole (572 yards from the tips) has seen its share of great plays, none more calamitous than Bruce Devlin’s "10" in 1975 during the Andy Williams San Diego Open.  Devlin, who was among the lead contenders in the tournament, dropped six consecutive approaches into the pond in front of the green en-route to the 10.

“Devlin's Billabong” is the name now given to the troublesome pond in front of the green.

About Hole No. 18 at Torrey Pines South CourseThe par-5 eighteenth on the South Course demands a very long drive before a challenging second shot over a small but dangerous lake in front of the green. From the back tees this par 5 is a three-shot hole for most players. From the front tees it’s reachable in two shots. Approach shots must be wary of “Devlin’s Billabong,” the small, yet troublesome pond in front of the green.

The quick, terraced green slopes from back to front.


Torrey Pines South Course par 5-18th hole

The Kodak Challenge was created to celebrate the beautiful holes and memorable moments in golf. Golfers must play at least eighteen of thirty Kodak Challenge holes throughout the season to qualify. The golfer with the best Kodak Challenge score relative to par at the end of the season will win the Kodak Challenge trophy and $1 million. 

For more on the Kodak Challenge visit pgatour.com/kodakchallenge. Fans can also follow the Kodak Challenge at facebook.com/kodakchallenge, twitter.com/kodakchallenge, and 1000words.kodak.com/kodakchallenge.

Read more about Kodak Challenge on PGA West par 3, 17th hole


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Tiger Woods vs Phil Mickelson at Torrey Pines? It could happen!

The 2011 PGA Tour season didn't officially begin this week, but with Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson debuting at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, expect the pace to ramp up a bit.

Now imagine these two golfers, with everyone anxiously awaiting their return, playing head to head on Sunday! It's a stretch but it could happen and did occur with their "dream pairing" at the 2008 U.S. Open.

Six wins at Torrey Pines for Woods (at the Farmers, one win at U.S. Open) with three for Mickelson show that these two golfers are confident that they made the right decision starting their 2011 PGA Tour season at this golf course.

credit

Should Phil have begun with business as usual at the Bob Hope Classic? With two wins at this event, it might have made a more positive impact than his decision to tune-up in Abu Dhabi.

PGA.com contended that Mickelson "lost interest in recent years when the tournament started moving away from its traditional rotation of golf courses," resulting in his overseas trip to Abu Dhabi where he placed in the 37th spot.

Both Tiger and Phil have expectations of winning at Torrey Pines but it seems that priorities have changed a bit in the past few years: the Tour is now taking a back seat to kids and their lives. Will this impact their respective games?

As Woods said in his press conference today, "The determination hasn’t changed, it just needs to be put into a proper perspective. I went down a path I never should have gone, so my priority is to keep my life in proper balance.”

Is Tiger or Phil more likely to succeed this week at Torrey Pines?
Devil Ball Golf editor Jay Busbee believes that "Tiger seems to be closer to putting it together than Phil."
Fellow writer Shane Bacon concurred adding, "If one of these two are winning this thing, it's Tiger. He's won the last four times he's played in this event, and took down that U.S. Open you might remember on one leg."

First round playing partner Rocco Mediate didn't say whether he felt Tiger Woods could win this week (memories of that 2008 U.S. Open?) but he does believe that Woods could come away with at least four wins this 2011 PGA Tour season.
A third possibility is that both Tiger and Phil struggle through another 2010 stretch and one of the young guns takes center stage. The wrath of Tiger Woods has eased on his playing partners since his winless season and Mickelson never really made anyone feel nervous on the golf course.

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Axis1 Golf to Introduce the UMBRA at 2011 PGA Merchandise Show

Axis1 Golf, maker of the world’s first perfectly balanced and completely torque free putters, announced today the March 25th retail availability of the Axis1 Umbra.

“The Axis1 Umbra, a modern mallet, is uniquely engineered for a breakthrough in control and feel,” said Axis1 Founder Luis Pedraza. “Axis1 Umbra features the world’s first 100% perfectly balanced and completely torque free platform along with the new L-Frame Alignment feature, which perfectly frames the golf ball for easier alignment.”

“We are excited to join the industry in Orlando to launch the Axis1 Umbra Putter to PGA Professionals, some of golf’s most influential retailers and golf media members from around the world,” mentioned Phil Long, Axis1 Golf Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “There is not a better launching ground for a new product, in my opinion.”


Axis1 Umbra:
Considered to be "the putters that never turn on you".

• Modern Mallet with L-Frame Alignment Feature
• CNC Milled Face for a solid feel
• 17-4ph Stainless Steel with black ion plating for enhanced durability
• Stainless Steel Counterweight Screws for perfect final balance calibration   
• Individually balanced

Here's a sneak peek of the new Axis1 Golf Umbra putter



About Axis1 Golf

Founded in 2006 by Luis Pedraza, an internationally-acclaimed industrial designer with over 20 patents and an avid golfer, Axis1 is an innovative putter company dedicated to developing the world’s most perfectly-balanced golf putters.

The Axis1 Eagle is the first 100% perfectly balanced putter. Because it is perfectly balanced, it doesn’t naturally open-up, resulting in more on-line putts and lower scores. This special feat was accomplished by pushing the weight forward with a patented heel counter weight that for the very first time places the center of gravity right on the center of the striking face and perfectly aligned with the axis of the shaft.


Axis1 Golf Awards:

• Best in Show – Sports Illustrated Golf Edition
• Best New Golf Product – Golf.com
• Most Innovative Club – PGA Show
• Bronze Medal Winner - IDEA® Most Innovative Products of 2010

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Golf for Beginners Axis1 Golf Eagle putter review
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PGA Tour vs European Tour...Golf Smackdown?

The European Tour continues to grow in popularity and this week is no exception as six of the top ten golfers in the official world rankings embrace the WGC HSBC Abu Dhabi Golf Championship as the competitive "tournament of choice".

Mickelson used to enjoy playing his season-opener at the Bob Hope Classic but is it just the stress of a five-day event that has Phil fleeing or is it the allure of $1 million that is tempting Lefty to visit Abu Dhabi?

In order to entice more PGA Tour golfers to play across the pond, spiffs are an integral part of the deal for notables like Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods, who will reportedly receive $3 million to show up in Dubai next month.

The diverse environment also interests Mickelson. "It has been great for me and my family to experience a lot of different cultures and learn from them."

U.S. golfers who add European Tour events to their schedule are being given a royal welcome by their hosts and appearance fees. The grueling PGA Tour schedule with "rigid rules", as mentioned by world's number-one golfer Lee Westwood, also requires play in fifteen events as opposed to thirteen...and the PGA Tour does not offer appearance fees. So, why fly the friendly skies?

Westwood, who gave up his PGA Tour membership, has snubbed in protest various events like the FedEx Cup and most recently, the Players Cup. Other Euro Tour golfers like Rory McIlroy have joined Westwood in his quest to remain Euro-centric and possibly to enhance the importance of their Tour.

In the picture below, newly named 2012 Ryder Cup Captain Jose Maria Olazabal is at the helm of the Abu Dhabi Ocean racing entry with possible picks. Is that Phil Mickelson readying to play for "Team Europe"? Quick Davis, offer an appearance fee...

 
credit


I mentioned a few weeks ago that it would be a good idea for the PGA and Euro Tour to mediate in order to give opportunities for the golfers to play either venue.

Westwood's manager, Chubby Chandler pointed out, "There are too many people in power thinking only about their own interests rather than what's good for the game. It does my head in to think the world No 1 in his sport can't play in a tournament he wants to play in, and which the sponsor wants him to play in."

"The Players is a big PGA Tour event – but that's all it is."

To put it in Rory McIlroy's words, "The PGA Tour won’t miss me, because no one player is bigger than the tour.”


I think a Smackdown is on the horizon. Does 'The Rock' play golf?


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Kodak Challenges golfers on PGA West par-3 17th hole

The Kodak Challenge, a first-of-its-kind competition for PGA TOUR players and fans, visits hole #17 at the Palmer Private Course of PGA West during the Bob Hope Classic on February 19-23.  The 130-yard par 3 at the Bob Hope Classic is the 2nd of 30 Kodak Challenge holes on the 2011 PGA TOUR this season.

The trip to the Bob Hope Classic marks a unique transition for the season-long $1 million Kodak Challenge competition, as it moves from the PGA TOUR’s longest hole (the 663-yard No. 18 at Kapalua) to the shortest (the 130-yard No. 17 at PGA West).

Robert Garrigus and Bubba Watson both eagled the first Kodak Challenge hole of the season at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions and co-lead the Kodak Challenge at 2-under-par.  Watson is scheduled to play in the Bob Hope Classic.

The Kodak Challenge celebrates the beautiful holes and memorable moments in golf. PGA TOUR pros must play at least 18 of 30 Kodak Challenge holes throughout the season to qualify. The golfer with the best Kodak Challenge score relative to par at the end of the season will win the Kodak Challenge trophy and $1 million.

Troy Merritt won the 2010 Kodak Challenge in a sudden-death playoff on No. 17 at the Children’s Miracle Network Classic. Merritt defeated Rickie Fowler and Aaron Baddeley in a one-hole playoff at Walt Disney World Resort’s Magnolia Course in Lake Buena Vista, FL, to capture the Kodak Challenge trophy and the winner-take-all $1 million prize.


About Hole #17 at the Bob Hope Classic

Proper position is a must on this beautiful, yet dangerous little hole. The 130-yard par 3 No. 17 offers a panoramic view of PGA West and its surrounding mountains.  The deep narrow green is well bunkered on the left and protected by rocks on the right side.  Players must watch the pin placement carefully, as this tricky green slopes right to left towards a nearby canal.  The PGA TOUR’s shortest hole, No. 17 was the 7th hardest hole at the Bob Hope Classic in 2010, yielding 43 birdies, 124 pars, 29 bogeys and 5 double bogeys.

 credit: PremierAerials.com

“The 2011 Kodak Challenge schedule builds upon the tremendous success of the 2010 season, offering players greater opportunities to participate and move up the leaderboard, while showcasing to fans the greatest scorecard in golf,” said Steve Powell, director of development for the Kodak Challenge.


The Kodak Challenge will once again highlight many of golf’s most exciting and picturesque holes in 2011 as players take on “the greatest scorecard in golf.” From the breathtaking 18th hole at The Plantation Course at Kapalua and the one-of-a-kind 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale, to the fabulous finishing holes at Pebble Beach, Harbour Town and Bay Hill, the Kodak Challenge provides fans and players a unique and compelling competition within a competition.


The Kodak Challenge schedule includes 26 of the 30 holes from the 2010 season. The RBC Canadian Open and The Barclays will debut new Kodak Challenge holes in 2011 as the tournaments visit new tournament venues. The Farmers Insurance Open moves to a new Kodak Challenge hole this year, the 570-yard, par-5 18th on the Torrey Pines South Course. Twenty-nine of the 30 Kodak Challenge tournaments for 2011 have been finalized. An announcement on the 30th tournament will be made in the near future.


For more on the Kodak Challenge visit pgatour.com/kodakchallenge. Fans can also follow the Kodak Challenge at facebook.com/kodakchallenge, twitter.com/kodakchallenge, and 1000words.kodak.com/kodakchallenge.


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