A New Comparison

I'm not much of a golf fan, but I was checking out a little bit of the U.S. Open from Winged Foot yesterday, and I saw that Phil Mickelson was leading for most of yesterday's final round. I was pulling for him to win. I've always liked Phil, as he was always an underdog for years, having never won a major tournament until winning the Masters in 2004 (pictured on the left winning the green jacket at the Masters from Tiger Woods).

He and the 2004 Red Sox seemed to be linked for what they finally accomplished that year. But yesterday on the 18th hole, Mickelson needed a four to win and five to tie and send the tournament into a tie-breaker. But he shot a six, and Australian Geoff Ogilvy won the U.S. Open by one stroke.

Now if you pick up the papers this morning, a very different kind of comparison is being made. From Hank Gola of the New York Daily News:

A four to win, a five to tie. Phil Mickelson made a six, and not since the Red Sox beat the Yankees in seven in 2004 has New York felt such a sickening punch to the solar plexis.

The New York Post mentioned the "c" word in regard to Phil's loss (choke), but failed to mention the last team that word has been linked with.

I remember when Greg Norman had that enormous lead at the 1996 Masters and ended up losing. Right after that happened, I saw comparisons to the 1986 Red Sox World Series loss everywhere. (You know those sidebar articles about "Other Famous Flops.") It made me sick seeing such nonsense.

Funny how what happened 20 years ago isn't mentioned much anymore.

First he was being compared the 2004 Red Sox, and after yesterday, Mickelson's being connected with the 2004 Yankees.

Sorry to see that happen. Go get 'em next time, Phil.