You don't have to be a golf fan to appreciate what happened at August National golf course this past weekend. The story going in to the Master's Tournament was Tiger Woods, the story now is Phil Mickelson.
Now, more than ever, the two could not be more different. Black and White, a righty and a lefty, and now the poster boy for infidelity trying to salvage his image against the fan friendly Mickelson who's wife and mother-in-law were both diagnosed with breast cancer within six months of each other last year; events that jarred Phil and had him take time away from the tour to be with his family.
Phil's win was not only good for Phil, but also for Tiger. Tiger completed the weekend tied for fourth, and admittedly missed some shots over the four days that could have made him a contender come Sunday evening. The galleries embraced him warmly, and, after a near six-month absence, was able to waltz into the biggest tournament of the year and show that he is still Tiger the magnificent golfer.
Maybe the term "it played out like a movie script" is used too often or too loosely, but this was indeed an instance that called for the phrase. Phil, the hero, Tiger, the new anti-hero to some, on the biggest stage of their sport, playing great and playing for reasons that extend beyond golf.
With Phil's win, the heat was off Tiger after he showed that he can still golf, still draw the crowds, and even with everything in his personal life, can still be liked.
After Phil sank his last putt to win the tournament by three strokes, a moment that words don't do justice occurred. Phil walked over to his wife Amy, who had not been on the golf course in 11 months and was in bed most of the week, and emotionally embraced her, an embrace that turned many eyes from dry to watery.
You can't make that stuff up.
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