Phil and Tiger

Degag

Have been meaning to ask this for a while. It's often said on tv or on forums etc that Phil Michelson and Tiger Woods don't get on. My question is why? I can't remember any spat between themselves and they seem pretty complimentary about eachother in interviews....

JerryHandbag

Tigers ex caddie Williams called Phil a pr1ck a few years back, that didn't help matters, but they weren't that friendly before that either.

Just a personality clash really, cant think of any one incident before that which caused a falling out.

Redzah

JerryHandbag wrote: »

Tigers ex caddie Williams called Phil a pr1ck a few years back, that didn't help matters, but they weren't that friendly before that either.

Just a personality clash really, cant think of any one incident before that which caused a falling out.

Ya, they just don't get on, the daggers they gave each other after a bad shot when paired together in the Ryder cup was hilarious.

Neither are like by their peers, in fact mickleson is very disliked and has earned the name FIGJAM on tour with the players maintaining his nice guy attitude is fake and is purely an act to keep the sponsors happy.

Seves Three Iron

Couple of incidents occurred at the Walker Cup in 1991 at Portmarnock that possibly show the reality of Mickelson, before he was cossetted by PR people.

He had a big falling out with Andrew Coltart who was playing against him in a singles match. Coltart didn't give Mickelson a short putt and Mickelson responded by sarcastically laying his putting out from ball to hole, indicating the old 'inside the grip' measurement for conceding putts. He proceded to take his putt with a stupid smile on his face and holed it. Aftewards, Coltart called him something along the lines of a 'smug idiot'.

Also, at the same event, he sliced a drive into the gallery. Some US TV reporter asked him in a throwaway remark how he liked getting up close to the Irish fans? Mickelson responded by saying that he didn't like it as the Irish women weren't great looking. The papers rode him over it the next day. He eventually apologised, lifting up some Irish dolly bird in his arms for the cameras.

Sandwlch

Seves Three Iron wrote: »

Also, at the same event, he sliced a drive into the gallery. Some US TV reporter asked him in a throwaway remark how he liked getting up close to the Irish fans? Mickelson responded by saying that he didn't like it as the Irish women weren't great looking. The papers rode him over it the next day. He eventually apologised, lifting up some Irish dolly bird in his arms for the cameras.

Unfortunate choice of words by Phil was deliberately misinterpreted by the gutter press to fabricate a story. It was in response to some poor driving bringing him close to the galleries. Phil's attempt at a light hearted explanation was the 'Irish girls arent that pretty', meaning he hadnt hit the ball there on purpose as if to get close the ladies. The emphasis was on the 'that'. Press pounces, 'Mickelson says Irish women are ugly' etc. Thats journalists for you.

Seves Three Iron

Fair play for the clarification. That story always intrigued me. Good to hear from someone who actually heard the original interview and how he said that. The quote is as follows; "I don't know what I'm doing here (in the rough). The Irish women are not that good looking."

JerryHandbag

Redzah wrote: »

Ya, they just don't get on, the daggers they gave each other after a bad shot when paired together in the Ryder cup was hilarious.

Lost twice in a day if I remember right, Hal Sutton was slaughtered for putting them together. Course if they won both matches he would be a hero :pac:

Jimmy Iovine

Redzah wrote: »

Neither are like by their peers, in fact mickleson is very disliked and has earned the name FIGJAM on tour with the players maintaining his nice guy attitude is fake and is purely an act to keep the sponsors happy.

To be fair to him he is better than almost everyone out there, and has been for the better part of 15 or 16 years now .

As said above I just think they don't like each other. I don't really mind it to be honest. No point in them pretending to be friends if they're not.

The only time it really annoyed me was when I was younger and Phil never appeared on Tiger's PS2 games. Being a lefty there was no other good lefties in the game so I obviously wanted to be him. Don't know why he was never in it. Maybe Tiger didn't want him or maybe it was a money/contractual reason. The simple problems of a 14 year old. Oh to be that young again.

Sandwlch

Forgive the slightly OT post, but was pleasantly surprised to find the following slice of history:

See Phil's shots at about 1:40 and 4:40. He was 20 or 21. Think 15th from Augusta last Saturday.

FixdePitchmark

You have to sort of run with Phil to like him.

The over the top confidence is not the norm for Irish people. But with Phil it is well placed, he is a class player and is unlucky to be around when Tiger was around. He was his real rival at both of their peaks.

The more we learn about Tiger, the more we know he is just a $$%$. But, was great to be around to watch him play the golf he played.

Perhaps Phil is right not to try get on with Tiger and is in a position where he does not have to bow down to Tiger like most other pros.

I would also admire Padraig who says what he thinks and would not go running after Tiger who is his antithesis.

Anyway just my opinion.

Would like to see Phil pick up 2 or 3 more Majors, but he has only a few more chances. Sunday was one gone.

foxyboxer

From a professional perspective they share a mutual respect and competitive streak.
Their personalities are wildy different, with Phil being extroverted and brashly confident and Woods being completely introverted and quietly confident.

My guess is that Woods saw Mickelson as the embodiment of the Private Club Rich Daddy's kid, playing golf on fine courses while he was grafting along on goat tracks trying to make it in a rich white mans game.

When Woods came to the Professional ranks and began to win Majors at a stroke, Mickelson held the infamous 'best to never win a major' title. My guess is his brashness and cockiness rankled Woods who believed that one should walk the walk in the Majors. When Mickelson won his first Masters, there was a cooling in the 'animosity' as they were now peers with Woods having known how difficult winning a major was and Woods begrudgingly acknowledging Mickelsons inevitable talking the talk/walking the walk spiel at the 2004 Masters.

PRAF

I have heard the FIGJAM references before and perhaps his public persona is different from the real Phil. However, I just don't see the cockiness or overconfidence that others see. I just see a pro who is great with the galleries, respectful of his fellow pros and tournament officials, and great with the media.

I don't think I've ever seen Phil break his clubs, toss them in a lake, snarl at the press, or ignore his fans. He leaves that to the likes of Tiger and Sergio.

Don't know why him and Tiger don't get along but as another poster suggested, it's probably because they are rivals and very different from eachother

HuntingDrog

Redzah wrote: »

Neither are like by their peers, in fact mickleson is very disliked and has earned the name FIGJAM on tour with the players maintaining his nice guy attitude is fake and is purely an act to keep the sponsors happy.

Folks - maybe I'm stupid but am I the only person who can't make out what FIGJAM means/represents?? sorry if its really obvious but I'm honestly not getting it.....can someone enlighten me?

foxyboxer

HuntingDrog wrote: »

Folks - maybe I'm stupid but am I the only person who can't make out what FIGJAM means/represents?? sorry if its really obvious but I'm honestly not getting it.....can someone enlighten me?

fcuk i'm good, just ask me.

Used to describe someone who is not modest in extolling how frickin awesome they are and relish the opportunity to discuss said talent.

The football equivalent would be a Cristiano Ronaldo or a Mario Balotelli. The opposite to a Messi or a Scholes.

HuntingDrog

foxyboxer wrote: »

fcuk i'm good, just ask me.

Used to describe someone who is not modest in extolling how frickin awesome they are and relish the opportunity to discuss said talent.

The football equivalent would be a Cristiano Ronaldo or a Mario Balotelli. The opposite to a Messi or a Scholes.

Ah gotcha. Tks

Have to say I love watching Phil. His back 9 on Sat night at Augusta was class. Golf-wise, he is fantastic to watch in full flow

foxyboxer

To give an example, which might give a clue;

Mickelson has Barclays as a sponsor.

Barclays sponsored the Scottish Open for a few years, an event in which Mickelson played. The basic gist of the PR spiel was that "This is a great event and is great preparation for next weeks Open etc etc"

How preparing for a Major on a links by playing on a parkland course (Loch Lomond at the time) is beyond me, but considering how Barclays no longer sponsor the Scottish Open, how confident are we that Mickelson will be playing it this year?

It's one thing to play the corporate shill, with Woods being the undisputed master, but considering how wealthy Mickelson et al are, just saying "I'm here playing to support my sponsor Barlcays, but I love this course etc etc" instead of some PR Bull about Open preparation would garner him more respect too.

opinionated3

Have to say i absolutely love watching Mickelson play the game (maybe cos i am a lefty too!!!) way more than i ever enjoyed Woods. Cannot stand Tiger anymore....his off course transgressions ruined his persona. There are huge differences between the two. Phil may be confident but it is totally justified imo. Tiger still struts around like he owns the place but has done nothing major to justify it lately. Phil has a fantastic all round game (must be the best short game player in the world?) whereas Tiger cant hit a fairway consistently and seems happy to throw childish strops when things don't go his way. Phil has class and always has, Tiger not so much imo

copacetic

Redzah wrote: »

Ya, they just don't get on, the daggers they gave each other after a bad shot when paired together in the Ryder cup was hilarious.

Neither are like by their peers, in fact mickleson is very disliked and has earned the name FIGJAM on tour with the players maintaining his nice guy attitude is fake and is purely an act to keep the sponsors happy.

He didn't 'earn' the nickname, he uses the saying himself, as do a number of US players when they hit a great shot.

Nothing whatsoever to so with being disliked, or putting on an act, as noted elsewhere in the thread, people just make this stuff up and it's repeated across the web as fact.

Edit - knew id seen it somewhere, this is the story with GQ admitting they made up that the other players called him FIGJAM. They started the rumour and later admitted they hadn't even spoken to any players.

http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/40417-the-truth-about-figjam/

Jimmy Iovine

Golf-wise it is impossible to dislike him. He plays like everyone wants to be able to play. If you're blocked by a tree, fúck it just hit over it. If there is a bed of hailstones on the green and you can't putt, fúck it just chip the ball into the hole. Even if it is on the 18th hole of a tournament and he could lose the thing if it all goes wrong.

He is an absolute genius. It was a pleasure to see him making that charge on Saturday. Unfortunately it had to end like that on the 4th on the Sunday though.

Have a look at numbers 9, 3 and 1 on this video. Simply amazing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJWrUchmxPw

Redzah

copacetic wrote: »

He didn't 'earn' the nickname, he uses the saying himself, as do a number of US players when they hit a great shot.

Nothing whatsoever to so with being disliked, or putting on an act, as noted elsewhere in the thread, people just make this stuff up and it's repeated across the web as fact.

Edit - knew id seen it somewhere, this is the story with GQ admitting they made up that the other players called him FIGJAM. They started the rumour and later admitted they hadn't even spoken to any players.

http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/40417-the-truth-about-figjam/

All you did is post a link to another message board site as truth?

The newspaper article is an admission that players/caddies were not consulted to confirm the FIGJAM name as it was confirmed by the writers closest to the tour players. I think there's enough on this to reasonably say that if u went into a PGA tour locker room and ask where FIGJAM is at, the players would all think of Phil.

Fact is he is not liked by a lot of (not all) tour players, example including Hunter Mahan admitting he was warned about him when he came on tour. GQ despite not consulting tour players would not include him on their list of hated sportsmen if there was not something to substantiate this. He has also appeared on another hated sportsman list (will update when i find it).

I personally think he is a class golfer and comes across well on TV but he is clearly not liked by his peers.

PRAF

He may not be liked by some of his peers but so what? If the pros do like Tiger and Sergio does that mean golf fans should ignore all of their petulance, strops, and rude behaviour ?

I've heard many more good stories about Phil than bad ones - leaving huge tips for people, spending hours signing autographs, being respectful to course staff and fellow pros, mentoring young pros like Keegan Bradley and Dustin Johnson etc. He also seems to be very family orientated and will put his family ahead of his career.

The main criticism seems to be he is a fake. It's a bit like going to America and finding all of the "have a nice day" stuff a bit grating. Unless I see proof of this, I'm still going to support Phil the Thrill!

foxyboxer

He's responsible for one of my favourite golf quips.

"Phil, great round today. You really know your way around this course. How is that?"

"The holes are numbered"

:pac:

Degag

Don't know when that video was made but THAT shot at the Masters a few years ago should surely be number 1.....

fryup

Sandwlch wrote: »

Unfortunate choice of words by Phil was deliberately misinterpreted by the gutter press to fabricate a story. It was in response to some poor driving bringing him close to the galleries. Phil's attempt at a light hearted explanation was the 'Irish girls arent that pretty', meaning he hadnt hit the ball there on purpose as if to get close the ladies. The emphasis was on the 'that'. Press pounces, 'Mickelson says Irish women are ugly' etc. Thats journalists for you.

well in truth, irish women back in them pre-celtic tiger days weren't the best looking:cool:

Raisins

Jimmy Iovine wrote: »

Golf-wise it is impossible to dislike him. He plays like everyone wants to be able to play. If you're blocked by a tree, fúck it just hit over it. If there is a bed of hailstones on the green and you can't putt, fúck it just chip the ball into the hole. Even if it is on the 18th hole of a tournament and he could lose the thing if it all goes wrong.

He is an absolute genius. It was a pleasure to see him making that charge on Saturday. Unfortunately it had to end like that on the 4th on the Sunday though.

Have a look at numbers 9, 3 and 1 on this video. Simply amazing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJWrUchmxPw

Did that guy jump into the lake when he holed the put at the end of that video? :eek:

link_2007

Ha ha, it certainly looks like it.

CANNONBALL....