Phil Michelson – 5 inches from Greatness

What happened on hole number 18 yesterday was no surprise. Disappointing? Yes. But not surprising. What happened on 18 could have happened on virtually any hole that final tournament day after only hitting 2 fairways in a U.S. Open. Michelson just could not put the driver in the bag.

Strategy is far more than just planning to put the ball into a certain position for the next shot. It is also making the adjustments along the way to make it happen. Amateurs keep hitting the “big dog” because it is the “big dog” that gives them the thrill of being out there. They could shoot 110 but if they hit that one drive 300 yards then that is all that matters - That is all they would talk about. But here we are talking about “Greatness” – the U.S. Open; three majors in a row; the possibly of joining Woods as the only other player to win the grand slam (forget this “all in one year”, that is silly); winning 4 out of his last 10 majors and yet Michelson couldn’t put the “big dog” away.

There was so much emphasis put on all the trips to Wing Foot by Michelson and his caddie and yet some of that money would have been far better spent on overall strategy play. Standing on 18, Michelson knew what had happened to Montgomery and so at that point all he needed was par to win and bogey to tie if Oglvie could get it down in two from some 200 yards out. Either way the objective should have been to make sure at any cost to put that drive in the middle of the fairway.

I know it is very easy to second guess a golfer after the fact but even the commentators such as Johnny Miller were absolutely baffled at Michelson’s decision with what was on the line. His driver had been so erratic all day and all he needed was to assure bogey at worst.

Several years ago it seemed like Michelson had finally decided to abandon his reckless approach to golf and started playing with much more precision. His shot making seemed to go to a whole new level. And there is no doubt that when he is hitting on all cylinders that shot making makes him almost unbeatable. The missing element as I see it is playing smart golf. His talent keeps him in there but his head keeps him from running away from the field. They say you can take the child out of the street but you can’t take the street out of the child. In this case I wonder if you can take the amateur out of Phil.

I have always been a great fan of Phil Michelson but it is frustrating to see someone like that whom could possibly be the greatest golfer this game has ever seen neglect the one element that is missing from reaching that greatness – as Bobby Jones would say “the 5 inches between the ears”.