Who needs Tiger?

Commentary

Easter Sunday at the 68th Masters was a day of revelations.

From the obvious to the obscure, rarely has one day of major championship golf proved as much about the superb state of the game than last weekend’s final-round fireworks at Augusta National.

Let’s start with Lefty. With a back nine for the ages, Phil Mickelson finally exorcised a decade of Grand Slam demons. Just when a floundering front nine (38) had us shaking our heads about another final-round flop, the new-look Mickelson hurled his major monkey into Rae’s Creek and shrugged into 43-long immortality.

Mickelson’s closing 31 was as notable for its patience as its pyrotechnics. Sure, Lefty birdied five of the layout’s last seven holes, surging from three behind to overtake three-time major champion Ernie Els with an 18-foot birdie bomb at the 18th. But what Mickelson’s back-nine run didn’t include was a single example of the kind of impetuous decision-making that had defined, and undone, so many of his other bids in golf’s biggies.

Lefty played his second to the fat of the green on No.13, content to accept a 20-foot eagle putt and a two-putt birdie. He laid up after missing his drive left at the par-5 15th, swallowing a momentum-halting par. He lag-putted with discretion in demand at the 17th, even though a birdie bolt would have given him the lead. And with the tournament in the balance and the whole golf world watching, he hit a 3-wood off the 18th tee to take the bunkers out of play.

These were not the decisions of the old Phil, who once famously stated, “The conservative way just [stinks]” … en route to beginning his major career in cavalier, and 0-for-46, fashion. This was the new Phil, who packs a fairway-friendly cut shot off the tee, rarely flops when he can flatstick and finally seems to understand that a damage-control bogey can be just as impressive as a mind-boggling birdie.

“I wouldn’t say I’m conservative, because I’m still firing at pins,” Mickelson said Saturday. “But first, I’m in the fairway, which makes the game easier. And second, maybe I’m picking my spots better. I don’t feel like I have to force the action quite like I used to.”

Els forced the action Sunday and Mickelson responded, proving his major mettle and providing the best Sunday Slam show in several seasons.

How entertaining was Phil vs. Ernie? Well, if you ask Mr. Nielsen, he’ll tell you the ratings were down; perhaps the Survivor crowd wanted an Easter egg hunt featuring Tiger and John Daly. But ask a golf fan, and he’ll immediately tell you Sunday’s finale rates as the top major duel in more than a decade, topping either of Tiger’s most riveting showdowns. Tiger vs. Sergio (1999 PGA Championship) was a killer in the Q-rating department, but both the caliber of the golf and the venue were only solid. And don’t even trot out Tiger vs. Bob May (2000 PGA), who like Pervis Ellison turned into a pumpkin the minute he left Louisville.

Nope, when Mickelson’s back-nine 31 trumped Els’ 33, golf not only proved that a hard, fast Augusta National was far from unplayable, it proved that Tiger doesn’t have to be involved for something truly epic to happen. TV might need Tiger, but golf really doesn’t. And that’s a good thing, because the Swoosh is still in the midst of unofficial leave. The most disconcerting part of Tiger’s seven-major slump is that he continues to become less competitive. If you don’t believe us, consider the fact that he’s recorded the worst finishes of his professional career in all four majors since the slump began.

Despite his struggles, another season-long Woodsian fade is about as unlikely as a Mickelson Grand Slam, which isn’t going to happen given the fact that this year’s final three majors are all on links courses (Shinnecock Hills, Royal Troon and Whistling Straits). Mickelson did finish tied for fourth at the 1995 U.S. Open at Shinnecock, but he’s generally not much of a links player (zero top-10s in 11 career British Open starts).

That said, the story of the season now becomes Lefty unleashed. How good will Mickelson be now that he’s tossed out the emotional baggage and dropped his mental restrictor plate?

“I know this sounds weird, but I can’t wait to get out there again,” said Mickelson, subconsciously fingering the lapels of his new green jacket. “I’ve waited so long that I promise you I’m going to thoroughly enjoy this one. But I hope and feel like it’s the start of something more.”