Tom Watson & Phil Mickelson: Did Running Their Mouths Affect Them?
by Ryan Ballengee on Feb 9, 2010 5:35 PM EST
in Pro Golf
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PrintIn the last several weeks, pro golf has had seemingly a record volume of off-course trash talk. From grooves to Tiger, the topics have been in stark contrast. The players doing the trash talking have also been near opposites. Two of the major instigators have been 60 year old legend Tom Watson and nearly 40 year old Phil Mickelson.
Both have repeatedly broached controversial subjects in the past few weeks. Each has received his fair share of criticism for not only the content of what they said, but in how they chose to share their message. Neither has publicly said that their respective brouhahas has caused them to lose focus of the job inside the ropes, but that may not be the case.
Since they each first opened their foodholes on their respective topics, both have seen limited action.
Watson first talked about Tiger Woods and his future return on January 29. His only tournament was the Dubai Desert Classic, where he surged on Sunday to finish T8.
Phil Mickelson first made waves two weeks ago when he announced that he would be playing the grandfathered Ping Eye 2 wedges at the Farmers Insurance Open. He contended at Torrey through three rounds before ultimately falling on Sunday into 19th. Last week at Riviera, Mickelson really was never part of the equation. He finished T45.
Through two weeks on Tour in 2010, Lefty is 165th in driving accuracy, 117th in GIRs, 130th in putting (shouldn't that be Robert Allenby?), and 79th in scrambling. In other words, Phil has been pretty average. The reality is that a lot of factors play into a golfer's performance, but it seems that the controversy that immersed Mickelson for the last two weeks may well have impacted his play.
As for Watson, we will have to wait to see if he can maintain his early season form, including a scintillating win at the season opener for the Champions Tour.
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Cabin fever already ?
that’s…ummm….really weak, RB – talking about Tiger Woods’ private life will either make you a really good or really bad golfer ?
check your word processor – make sure it doesn’t say “all work and no play makes Ryan a dull boy” over and over. :-D
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
You really whiffed on the point of this. The question is: how much impact does taking a lot of flack have on one’s game.
Find me! Email: ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com, Twitter: http://twitter.com/waggleroomryan, or Facebook: http://facebook.com/waggleroom.
by Ryan Ballengee on Feb 9, 2010 6:19 PM EST up reply actions
How much impact does a man's wife battling cancer have on one's game?
by freeze gopher on Feb 9, 2010 6:23 PM EST up reply actions
have you heard anything about Amy or Phil’s mom since the big “comeback” last summer ? I haven’t. Guess that means they’re doing pretty well…at least we all hope.
And Phil did win the Tour Championship after the initial phases of treatment.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Well, Phil isn’t playing in the Match Play because of previously scheduled treatments for his wife’s battle with cancer. So, not certain where that stands.
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by Ryan Ballengee on Feb 9, 2010 7:50 PM EST up reply actions
Also a very good point.
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by Ryan Ballengee on Feb 9, 2010 7:48 PM EST up reply actions
“Did running their mouths affect them” – not “did the criticism of what they said affect them” – you didn’t specify giving or receiving of criticism and we know that both of them have had it heaped on them in their careers and both have had fairly decent careers.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
RB,
Court’s gotcha there…your title says it all and then when called on it you change the question. You, Ryan, are the whiffer here. But fortunately for you, the answer to the original question obviously is NO, or else this site would have crashed and you wouldn’t have been elected to the Golf Writers of America.
See, the thing that I do is give the reader credit for being intelligent enough to understand what I’m implying. I should probably stop that practice since that normally doesn’t happen.
Find me! Email: ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com, Twitter: http://twitter.com/waggleroomryan, or Facebook: http://facebook.com/waggleroom.
by Ryan Ballengee on Feb 9, 2010 7:49 PM EST up reply actions
That’s a big mistake to make, RB. Never assume that the readers are going to figure out what the heck you’re trying to talk about. It’s “journalism”, not a guessing game. A misleading title followed by a 180 in the body gets you called to the frat president’s office in a hurry. :-)
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Fairly decent ?
I’d say anyone with 3 or more majors is an all time great…more so in Watsons case…Corey Pavin, Fred Couples…I’d call those careers decent.
Running Their Mouths ???
Stating ones OPINION, while being asked loaded questions by hopped up reporters catching you by surprise, trying to scoop a story, hardly represents running ones mouth. I like most of what you write Ryan but I think your off base here. progolf
"pain is only weakness leaving the body"
Speaking opinion = running your mouth. Giving a speech = running your mouth. Saying hi to your dog = running your mouth.
You guys seriously have to learn to stop worrying about semantics.
Find me! Email: ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com, Twitter: http://twitter.com/waggleroomryan, or Facebook: http://facebook.com/waggleroom.
by Ryan Ballengee on Feb 9, 2010 7:49 PM EST up reply actions
"running ones mouth"
suggests talking without thinking..can’t apply here…Phil and Tom had a thoughtful opinon.
You got it. As I said when I last brought up Watson, “If you run your mouth in public, be fully willing to accept criticism.”
And, likewise, as commenters.
Find me! Email: ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com, Twitter: http://twitter.com/waggleroomryan, or Facebook: http://facebook.com/waggleroom.
by Ryan Ballengee on Feb 9, 2010 7:54 PM EST up reply actions
= “letting your fingers do the talking” ? (this is in pre-approval condition with TXQ)
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Haha, now THAT was funny.
Find me! Email: ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com, Twitter: http://twitter.com/waggleroomryan, or Facebook: http://facebook.com/waggleroom.
by Ryan Ballengee on Feb 9, 2010 10:49 PM EST up reply actions
I gotta start charging for these
pre-approvals.
OK no worries
But you sound a little bitter about our criticism of you. Hence your statement, “You guys seriously have to learn to stop worrying about semantics”. No offence meant Ryan, just my observation.
"pain is only weakness leaving the body"
I’m not bitter, but I do feel that I have a right to respond to criticism levied against me.
Here’s a good story to share to partially explain why I’m frustrated today:
I woke up and checked my email this morning with a letter from a reader (not a regular) who had read exactly 10 words of an article I wrote in November about Greg Norman’s Earth Course in Dubai. From those 10 words, he figured he knew me enough to rip on my belief system and smile of all things. The thing is that he didn’t do his research. He didn’t know what he was talking about. So, I replied to him and proved to him that not only what he said was inconsistent with at least three other pieces I had written, but that he was in the wrong for personally insulting me.
Thankfully, most of you guys and gals don’t do that. But when you do, I’m not afraid to fire back.
Find me! Email: ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com, Twitter: http://twitter.com/waggleroomryan, or Facebook: http://facebook.com/waggleroom.
by Ryan Ballengee on Feb 9, 2010 8:02 PM EST up reply actions
darn right – RB – and who would take shots at that Burt Reynolds / porn star grin ? (bwaahaahaa) (ducking)
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
I had to put up with years of orthodontic stuff to get my smile where it is, so I will not stand for bashing my pearly white teeth!
Find me! Email: ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com, Twitter: http://twitter.com/waggleroomryan, or Facebook: http://facebook.com/waggleroom.
by Ryan Ballengee on Feb 9, 2010 10:50 PM EST up reply actions
Indeed you do
Have the right to respond as we all do. I don’t think any of us, (myself included) take criticism well. It’s just the way life is sometimes. In the Ring I was taught, “Never cease fire” “Get hit and fire back” It’s never good to wake up to angry e mails to start your day off on the wrong foot, but try not to let that reflect in the things that you do for the rest of the day as it will not go by unnoticed by others. Sometimes I don’t check my e mail accounts until a minimum of 4 cups of coffee and a pop tart later, but thats just me. lol
"pain is only weakness leaving the body"
Hey, so long as no one gets hurt, I really don’t mind the banter. The times I get frustrated in particular are when folks comment here in a way that doesn’t advance the conversation at all (like Bill is doing in the thread about the pro-am format), lack any kind of facts to them, or contain personal attacks.
I try very hard not to do any of those things when I’m trying to respond to stuff, and I’m very pleased when the same thing happens in return – even if it is critical. But, I won’t stand for commenters who are malicious or ignorant or both.
Find me! Email: ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com, Twitter: http://twitter.com/waggleroomryan, or Facebook: http://facebook.com/waggleroom.
by Ryan Ballengee on Feb 9, 2010 8:20 PM EST up reply actions
Fair Enough
Since my heart attack a year ago, I look at things a lot differently these days. It was very humbling. Now if I can just get my 4 handicap back on the course without getting to PO’d along the way, I’ll be doing something. Gawd I hate taking a cart. LOL
"pain is only weakness leaving the body"
I haven’t seen a 4 handicap since high school, which is increasingly getting further away from me!
Find me! Email: ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com, Twitter: http://twitter.com/waggleroomryan, or Facebook: http://facebook.com/waggleroom.
by Ryan Ballengee on Feb 9, 2010 8:33 PM EST up reply actions
Had the same thought about Mickelson's focus
as he seemed spend so much energy with his spiel about “not legal but approved clubs”. Don’t really feel the same about Watson as he seems to be pretty streaky in his play.
Watson's 60
Any good streak at this point is a bonus. He’s earned the right to Run his mouth, though if he had a beef with Woods’ on course demeanor. He had plenty of time before now to comment. Alas, he was asked a question, and he answered……..go figure.
"The game is swell when it's played well."
by Fairways and Grins on Feb 9, 2010 9:57 PM EST up reply actions
He’s playing well – rested up and off to a good Champions Tour start…but I can’t agree that playing well gives anybody the right to publicly tell someone else how they should live their life.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
I think anyone has the right to run to speak out/run their mouth, so long as they’re willing to take the brush back from it. Joe Ogilvie has just as much right to talk as Tiger or Watson or Jack.
It is definitely important to consider Watson’s age in his play. But, DAMN, is it impressive that Watson finished T8 in Dubai. At 60!
Find me! Email: ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com, Twitter: http://twitter.com/waggleroomryan, or Facebook: http://facebook.com/waggleroom.
by Ryan Ballengee on Feb 9, 2010 10:52 PM EST up reply actions
I’m just surprised that an old school guy like Watson wouldn’t just say “it’s not my place to talk about the man’s private life like this.” I would have figured him for telling the rest of the guys who run off at the mouth to mind their own business.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Didn't Watson say
that he had already written privately to TW about his on-course behaviour not being fitting for a great champion?
hadn’t heard that. sounds nice if it’s true. (then again, publicly announcing that you did something privately sort of defeats the purpose)
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
That was my first thought too, Court
but then again at least he did make the remarks “to his face” first. I think his remarks this time were more to do with how TW should behave when he comes back if he wants public respect. (Would also give morons less reason to shout abuse him at him when he does return?)
Anyway, we all know that Tom can do no wrong in UK eyes;)!
Watson's comments.
“What Tom Watson said publicly, many players have been saying privately for years”. That from golf writer John Feinstein. There have been many Tour players here tell me the same thing over the years. “Woods needs to grow up”. I gotta agree with those sentiiments……..Z.
you're still away,...choke on it !
I have had the pleasure
of meeting Mr. Watson several times, and I can tell you he doesn’t really run his mouth or suffer fools easily…Wendy is right on both counts…he did say at one time that he had written Tiger and explain golf course etiquette to him…Also , if you look at what was said, he really was dealing with “when he returns” vs how to live his life…Maybe, just maybe when he does come back, we will see a more “grown up” tiger….STUB
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