Improving His Record

"I think for ten years I have struggled against Tiger. My record was pathetic."
- Phil Mickelson

What fun watching him go head-to-head with Tiger today and beating him outright. Of course he wasn't satisfied with beating Tiger by five strokes so, in true Mickelson fashion, he had to make us all squirm a bit as he whittled it to a more comfortable two.

Great fun, Phil. Thanks for the show.

And, by the way, I don't know much about PGA politics or what kind of discussions are going on behind closed doors, but I do know this: If you give up your shot at the $10 million FedEx Cup Title just so you can be home with your kids when they start school this week, you will be the permanent all-time "number one" on my list of favorite golfers.

I'm guessing there is a little more to it than just your desire to see the kids off, but I'd be giddy if you did it.

Do it, Phil. DO IT!

And the Winner Is...

Luisa. She guessed I was at the US Open, and she guessed right. All forty million bonus points are hereby conferred upon her.

It. Rocked.

So let me just begin this post by saying thank you to my husband who took me and arranged everything. I love him anyway, but he makes it so much easier when he does cool things like this.

Here I am in front of the clubhouse:
It was an incredible event. I was amazed to see how many things needed to be coordinated just so that we could watch. Truly, truly amazing. And that wasn't even the best part. The players were the best part! It was actually quite easy to get a close-up view of them. So close, in fact, that you could say something like "who is that guy?" to your husband and that guy would actually be able to hear you! (Not that I would ever say anything so uncouth. I am just confessing speaking hypothetically.)

But the cool part about going to a practice round is that when you get up close like that, you can take lots of pictures. Some of the players would even look your way if you called out their names. I have pictures of Stuart Appleby, Scott Verplank, Justin Leonard, Sergio Garcia, defending champ Jeff Ogilvy, Darren Clark, Davis Love III, Jim Furyk (Sports Illustrated's pick to win it this year), and Retief Goosen. (And if I could have gotten a picture of Ian Poulter's red, plaid pants for you, you know I would have posted it. You know I would.)

Oh my was it fun.

But you know what the best part was?

PHIIIIIIIIIIIIL!

And don't think that I didn't call out his name. Because I did. Oh, yes I did. I yelled "GO, PHIL!"

During a PRACTICE ROUND.

Because, as you know, practice rounds weigh heavily in the final score on Sunday afternoon, and I needed to spur on my favorite player to V.I.C.T.O.R.Y. Paul said he was a little surprised that I yelled. But it was Phil Mickelson.

Phil. MICKelson.

I simply could not help myself.

Mr. Mickelson, as it turns out, was not so easy to get close to because he was being followed everywhere he went by about seventy gazillion people. (He is the #2 golfer in the world, y'know.) And while approaching the eleventh tee, where I was poised to take his picture as he walked the path in front of a tree, he did a tricky little move whereby he ducked behind the tree. So, I took the picture you see as he walked down the eleventh fairway with some guy that I don't know. (Don't worry, I kept quiet that time.)

And if you don't know which one of those guys is Phil Mickelson, then you are not allowed to read my blog any longer.

Sporting News

Congratulations to the members and fans of the UConn men's basketball team, who defeated Georgia Tech to win the NCAA championships. Hoping the women will do the same against Tennessee. The pleasure that I gain from the victories of these teams is in knowing that it makes a lot of people I love very happy.

Alex Rodriguez is a Yankee. (This is old news, but I needed some kind of lead-in.) He will be playing third base this season, although he is, hands down, the best short stop in the American League, (and maybe in all the majors.) Remaining at short stop will be Derek Jeter... who has the same birthday as me.

A-Rod's position was left vacant when then third baseman Aaron Boone blew out his knee in a game of pickup basketball; an indulgence prohibited in his contract. Though he could have lied about how he sustained the injury, he chose to tell the truth and was subsequently let go by the Yankees (to the tune of about $5 million, which remained on his contract.) Imagine that, someone who will tell the truth at all costs. May he be richly rewarded for refusing to lie.

The first round of the Masters begins on Thursday. Though I seriously doubt he is reading this blog, I would like to wish Phil all the best as he attempts to win his first (elusive) major. (Though I wouldn't wish that green jacket on anybody.)