Ok, Ok, Mickelson Is A Pretty Decent Fellow

I know I harp on Phil Mickelson a lot around this site. He's an easy target and I've heard some negative stories about him over the years. No matter all of that, there are times Lefty does a lot of good and I think we can't overlook that.

This weekend Phil and wife Amy knocked out their fourth annual Smart Start program in San Diego, an opportunity for underprivileged kiddos to land school supplies and clothes before they head off to classes. This year they had nearly 1,500 first through fourth graders participate. It's moving stuff.

"It's the looks on their faces," Mickelson said.

It's their stories, too.

The one about the woman who was sleeping in her car with her six children until child protective services took the kids to a shelter a few days ago. One of the boys wouldn't stop talking about his invitation to Start Smart. His teacher found the boy, prevailed on the social workers to cut the red tape and brought him to the store where he could shop for his family.

Or the one about the woman whose Marine husband had deployed to Iraq. Her older daughter, when told she had to share her clothes with a sister who had outgrown hers, was heartbroken. And then the Start Smart invitation came for both girls, and they shopped for more clothes than their mother dreamed they'd have anytime soon.

This a great program and something you have to respect the man for. Good job Phil, we can all hope that the good karma comes back to you in form of Ryder Cup wins this week. I hope that isn't trivializing this program he is a part of, because it truly is a special opportunity for a lot of kids with no chance.

Phil Mickelson, Truly the Anti-Tiger Woods

My uncle made a great point on the phone a minute ago about Phil Mickelson -- the dude is completely the opposite of Tiger Woods in clutch situations.

Sure, he's won three majors and yes, he's immensely talented, but since Winged Foot he hasn't been the same guy.

Today, Lefty practically wrapped up the trophy for the Bridestone Invitational, tied a cute little bow on top and then handed it over to Vijay Singh, who was doing his best to hand it back.

Schmickey has never won a World Golf Championship and after bogeys on three of his last four holes Sunday, will be WGC-less once more. Always one to allow his game to sway with his confidence, Mickelson had a great shot to enter the PGA Championship next week as the favorite.

Now he's going to have this on his mind, and that ain't good.

No More Michelle, Mickelson Making Mighty Moves

There are positives and negatives to being one of the top golfers in the world, and even though the bonuses obviously outweigh anything you or I could ever imagine, the one thing is you need to win to be successful.

Unlike Rocco Mediate at the U.S. Open or Michelle Wie trying to make the cut, guys like Vijay Singh need to win or the year is considered a failure. It's like trying to buy a drink for a girl only to realize not only does she not drink, but she's friends with your ex. Yikes.

Singh and Phil Mickelson are atop the leaderboard today at the Bridgestone Invitational after both shot four-under 66 on Friday.

Not like in an event with all these big names you'd have an unexpected winner take the trophy, but it's nice to see the only two golfers to ever challenge He Who Should Not Be Named in the last eight years are both going to play together today in hopes of securing a win and taking title of "Favorite at the PGA Championship" to Oakland Hills.

Oh, and Wie shot 80 yesterday. Sorry, had to get that in there somewhere. That is all about young Wie. I'll try to avoid posting about her for at least a week, like when you vow not to drink after a long weekend in Vegas.

Photo Courtesy of Sam Greenwood, Getty Images

And Lefty Is Doing Exactly What Lefty Does

I mentioned it earlier this week in my picks, but Phil Mickelson always seems to win events when he has absolutely zero pressure from the media. It's the Bridgestone Invitational, but it isn't even the most talked about event this week because of a certain Michelle Wie.

Well, he's going by the book accordingly, shooting two-under on the front nine today at Firestone to move into a tie with Retief Goosen at the top of the leaderboard. Schmickey has yet to make a bogey this week and also has yet to eat anything Animal Style either.

You can keep up with live scoring here or just assume Tiger wins and go about your day.

Photo props to Stuart Franklin, Getty

Phil Mickelson Continues to Not Be Technical At All About Golf

My uncle has a pretty funny story about once seeing Phil Mickelson at a bar in Tempe during his college days passed out in the corner with his friends. This isn't to defame his image, everyone drank and passed out and probably peed in a bed or two during college (blushes).

The reason I'm bringing this up is because Mickelson actually won a PGA Tour event as a college student, the 1991 Northern Telecom Open. I just wonder how crazy he was about numbers those days or if he just went out and tried to hit it as close as possible on every hole.

All of this is raised because of what I just read about everyone's favorite Lefty (Except Canadians).

Phil Mickelson and his short-game guru, Dave Pelz, work with a software program that analyzes tour statistics and applies them to various top venues.

The Left-handed professor offered an example of the wonders revealed by the program — and closed with a pop quiz.

"If you increase any statistical category across the board, it lowers scores," Mickelson explained. "OK, 10 percent fewer putts, 10 percent more greens, 10 percent closer to the hole, 10 percent more fairways — every one lowers scores except longer driving distance."

Warming to the subject, he added, "There's one golf course in America where 10 percent longer driving equates to lower scores. What would you think it would be?"

After a pregnant pause, he smiled and said, "Augusta National."

How hard are the guys that created this software laughing to the bank? This hard?

What person with even a scosh of common sense couldn't figure out that 10 percent fewer putts would lower your score?

"Well Phil, here is your word problem. Chez Reavie plays 36 holes at Troon North. The first 18 he has 30 putts, the second 18 he has 28 putts. Based solely on the information given, which round would produce a lower score?"

Am I missing something?

So, I Guess Tiger Woods Isn't Winning at Firestone?

If Firestone ever goes under, the one bright side will be the opportunity to rename the course to Tiger Woods' Baby.

Woods has absolutely dominated the thing since the WGC-NEC started at Firestone. Since 1999, Tiger has won six of eight trips to the Akron, Ohio course, so it will be interesting picking someone other than El Tigre.

Here are a few to keep you eyes on.

Stewart Cink - Well, one of the years Tiger didn't win the trophy it went to Cink. Mr. Second Place actually broke through for a win at the Travelers Championship a month ago and even after a missed cut at the British, he'll contend if he keeps hitting greens at the rate he is this season (67.98%).

Padraig Harrington - Sure, he's never won at Firestone, but he's on fire coming in and even took a week off to relax after keeping the Claret Jug for another year. He finished t-14, t-27, and t-24 the last three years, so it isn't like he can't play the course. Also, I heard this year the British Open winner gets to start the tournament one-under before he even tees off, so that's a cool little bonus.

Phil Mickelson - He's never really done a ton at Firestone, but he's Phil Mickelson and always seems to win events you're not really expecting him to (on the other hand, he usually loses badly at the ones you're expecting a lot from him). I really only put him in because I just looked, and in 2006 he finished t-51 and made $40,250. Jesus, I know you randomly say things like, "oh yeah, that dude is a millionaire" but I can identify with that much money, so when you put it like, "oh, he finished 51st in a tournament and made 40 grand" it hits more to bank account. All of that is for this simple question -- how much money could you steal from Lefty before he'd even notice it. $5 million? $20 million? Amy?

Sean O'Hair - This kid is due. I'd watch out for him, he has a cool walk.

Hey Look, Phil Mickelson In Shorts

About the time the PGA Championship rolls around, people are slightly burned out with golf. They've had the ups of the Masters, the grind of the U.S. Open and the lust of the British to deal with and now this, a major championship that has damn club professionals in the field.

The best part is, usually we get a picture of Tiger Woods and/or Phil Mickelson in shorts, which always looks a little strange since we never see it.

Lefty was doing his usually dissection of the course, this year at Oakland Hills, which has been substantially lengthened since the 2004 Ryder Cup by 400 yards.

Anyway, this is just so I can show a picture of Mickelson's sexy legs. Ladies, if you want to reach him, you better get in line.

Photo courtesy of Carlos Osorio/AP

Phil Mickelson Reveals How He Got Un-Fat

When did Phil Mickelson become this hip?

First he's shooting an episode of "Entourage" (ok, hip in '03) and now he's revealing his workout secrets in Men's Vogue?

I promise, the article gets better than the first line, which was obviously written by someone that has zero clue about anything golf, so she made the always hilarious "funny pants" joke to start.

In most professional sports, a paunch squeezed into tacky pants does not an athlete make. But such is the charm of golf.

Anyway, the article says that Mickelson is eating small portions five times a day, doing some hilarious looking lunges and carries his bag to shed weight! Wow!

This is why I never understand these fitness articles. How much fun is it to read about what someone does to lose weight? It's like reading an article about someone sleeping.