Mickelson's chance to become World No 1
FROM THE GOLF DIGEST WEBSITE
Phil Mickelson can overtake Tiger Woods in the world rankings at the Players Championship with a win and a non-top-five finish by Woods. It would be the first time the left-hander had reached No 1 in the rankings.
Of the players considered to be the "Big Four" of this generation -- Woods, Mickelson, Vijay Singh and Ernie Els -- Mickelson is the only player to have never been No. 1.
Woods, who missed the cut last week for only the sixth time in his career, has been No. 1 the last five years.
Mickelson is trying to become only the 13th player to be No. 1 since the rankings began in 1986, and he has momentum on his side. He won The Players Championship two years ago, and he is coming off a Masters victory and a runner-up finish at Quail Hollow.
"I'm glad that this first tournament went well, because after a couple weeks off after a big high like Augusta, you never know where the game is going to be at," Mickelson said.
"And the way that I played and kept the ball in play and hit good shots, I'm looking forward to next week."
Woods is coming off the highest 36-hole score of his career at Quail Hollow. He shot a 79 in the second round -- the second-highest round as a pro -- and missed the cut by eight shots.
Woods arrived on Monday for a practice round with Rod Pampling.
It is rare for Woods to show up at regular US PGA Tour events on Monday, although he said last week before leaving Quail Hollow that his home course at Isleworth is torn up at the moment because of renovations.
This is the second time in the last two years that Woods' top ranking was on the line. Last year at Doral, Sergio Garcia could have become No. 1 with a victory in the World Golf Championship provided Woods was 27th or worse. In that situation, however, Woods had never finished out of the top 10 at Doral.
While he won The Players Championship in 2001, this is the only tournament where Woods has finished out of the top 20 at least five times. Last year, he played in the final group (five shots behind Alex Cejka), but closed with a 73 to finish eighth.
FROM THE GOLF DIGEST WEBSITE
Phil Mickelson can overtake Tiger Woods in the world rankings at the Players Championship with a win and a non-top-five finish by Woods. It would be the first time the left-hander had reached No 1 in the rankings.
Of the players considered to be the "Big Four" of this generation -- Woods, Mickelson, Vijay Singh and Ernie Els -- Mickelson is the only player to have never been No. 1.
Woods, who missed the cut last week for only the sixth time in his career, has been No. 1 the last five years.
Mickelson is trying to become only the 13th player to be No. 1 since the rankings began in 1986, and he has momentum on his side. He won The Players Championship two years ago, and he is coming off a Masters victory and a runner-up finish at Quail Hollow.
"I'm glad that this first tournament went well, because after a couple weeks off after a big high like Augusta, you never know where the game is going to be at," Mickelson said.
"And the way that I played and kept the ball in play and hit good shots, I'm looking forward to next week."
Woods is coming off the highest 36-hole score of his career at Quail Hollow. He shot a 79 in the second round -- the second-highest round as a pro -- and missed the cut by eight shots.
Woods arrived on Monday for a practice round with Rod Pampling.
It is rare for Woods to show up at regular US PGA Tour events on Monday, although he said last week before leaving Quail Hollow that his home course at Isleworth is torn up at the moment because of renovations.
This is the second time in the last two years that Woods' top ranking was on the line. Last year at Doral, Sergio Garcia could have become No. 1 with a victory in the World Golf Championship provided Woods was 27th or worse. In that situation, however, Woods had never finished out of the top 10 at Doral.
While he won The Players Championship in 2001, this is the only tournament where Woods has finished out of the top 20 at least five times. Last year, he played in the final group (five shots behind Alex Cejka), but closed with a 73 to finish eighth.
Labels: Pro Men
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Tuesday, May 04, 2010
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