Phil Mickelson will likely go down in golf history as one of the 12 best of all time - he'd be anywhere from eight to 12 on most lists - but because of his career running parallel to that of Tiger Woods, he's never even been ranked No. 1 in the world.
Now at age 43, that may change. Judging by his performance at the British Open at Muirfield, Scotland in mid-July, which he won by roaring from five strokes behind with a brilliant final-round 66, he may be, like a fine wine, improving with age.
With five career major titles, Mickelson will never come close to the 14 that Woods has accumulated in his storied career, but golf history's chapter on Mickelson will have an empty paragraph if he doesn't somehow find a way to win a United States Open title in the next four or five years.
With three Masters' titles to his credit, one PGA and now a British, Mickelson is only a U.S. Open away from a career Grand Slam, a feat accomplished by only five others - Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen. Illustrious company indeed. And despite failing to win one, his U.S. Open record is sensational. Amazingly, he has finished second six times in the U.S. Open. "Can I trade in six seconds for one first?" cracked Mickelson to an interviewer following his dramatic win at Muirfield.
"I think that if I'm able to win the U.S. Open and complete the career Grand Slam, I think that's the sign of the complete, great player," Mickelson told golfchannel.com. "I'm a leg away. And it's been a tough leg for me."
The win in Scotland moved Mickelson to No. 2 in the world behind - who else? - Woods. He's having a great 2013, with six top-three finishes and claims a recent putting adjustment has made him a terror on the greens, his former Achilles heel. He's always been the most imaginative shotmaker on the tour, willing to try anything, but shaky putting has regularly held him back.
'What will Phil do next' was the theme of an advertising campaign one of his sponsors ran a few years ago. If that 'next' thing is a U.S. Open title at Pinehurst in 2014 (where he finished second to Payne Stewart in 1999), his career Slam will be complete and golf historians will be forced to upgrade his position among the greatest of all time.
Brad Dickson of the Omaha World-Herald: "NBA player Baron Davis claims he was once abducted by aliens. Actually, Davis was relieved. At first when he was grabbed, he thought he'd been traded to the Bobcats."
R.J. Currie of sportsdeke.com: "More than 35 NFL players have run afoul of the law this offseason. Where are they finding these guys? Arrested development camps?"
Steve Simmons of Sunmedia: "The e-mail arrived Friday from the Florida Panthers, offering season tickets for $7 per game, including free parking, a free player jersey and stuff to eat. For $7 at a Leafs game you can't get a hot dog and a drink.
NBC funnyman Jay Leno: "We are proud to say that Los Angeles has one of the lowest crime rates of any major city. You know why? We don't have an NFL team."
Greg Cote of the Miami Herald: "The Bikini Basketball Association is for male fans who think the Lingerie Football League is over the top and prefer a classier, more refined sexism."
Torben Rolfsen, on a reporter in Florida getting a leaked 2013-14 Panthers schedule: "There are a couple of interesting things: a 20-day break in February during the Winter Olympics and a windup party the day after the regular season ends."
Cam Hutchinson of the Saskatoon Express: "I'm guessing photographs of Toronto Maple Leafs championship teams were taken off a wall at Air Canada Centre to be colourized."
Dickson again: "George Brett has stepped down as the Kansas City Royals' interim batting coach. To give you an idea how much the Royals were struggling when he started, a guy walking around the world backward said, "I wouldn't want a challenge that big."
NBC's Jimmy Fallon, on Sylvester Stallone, 67, making plans for a seventh "Rocky" movie: "You can tell he's getting up there, because instead of running up those famous stairs, now Rocky just takes the elevator."
TNT's Conan O'Brien, on reports that LeBron James won't be a member of the next U.S. Olympic basketball team: "LeBron said he won't play for any country that has less money than he does."
Comedy writer Alex Kaseberg: "Cincinnati Reds second baseman, Brandon Phillips, called his $72.5 million dollar contract offer, 'A slap in the face.' So that means my salary as a comedy writer is a Turkish Prison Gang Rape."
Kaseberg again: "The Cleveland Browns signed their #1 draft pick, Barkevious Mingo. Many experts feel Barkevious Mingo is the best player in NFL history named either Barkevious or Mingo."
