golfrewind.com

Greetings ...

The following is a response to one Phil Mickelson, who has on a number of occasions expressed concern that events opposite the 3 official money World Golf Championships, and maybe the British Open as well, dilute (IE draw attention away from) the main product.
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Dear Mr. Mickelson,

So-oo, opposing events dilute the main product, eh?

Yo, Phil, ol boy, are you afraid that we golf fans (or are we bimbos?) are not paying full attention to and your fellow competitors when the British Open or any one of the 3 official money WGCs are on the air? Sure there's other golf going on. And other sports too! And other aspects of life as well! But we know you're there!

Let's do some serious research here --

Weekend of WGC-Accenture Match Play. "Opposing" it are these --
Chrysler-Tucson Open
LPGA event ***
Nationwide event ***
Champions event ***
Euro Tour event ***
NBA Basketball
College Basketball
NHL Hockey
Nascar Race ***

*** = if being held that weekend

Weekend of British Open. "Opposing" it are these --
B.C. Open
LPGA event ***
Nationwide event ***
Champions event ***
Nascar Race ***
Major League Baseball

Weekend of WGC-Bridgestone (ex-NEC) Invitational. "Opposing" it are these --
Reno-Tahoe Open
LPGA event ***
Nationwide event ***
Champions event ***
Euro Tour event ***
Nascar Race ***
Major League Baseball
College Football ***
Pre-season NFL Pro Football
USGA Men's Amateur ***

Weekend of WGC-AmEx Championship. "Opposing" it are these --
Southern Farm Bureau Classic
LPGA event ***
Nationwide event ***
Champions event ***
Euro Tour event ***
Nascar Race ***
Major League Baseball
NFL Pro Football
NHL Hockey
College Football

Point is this, Mr. Mickelson -- We know that the tournament's on, and if you or any of the other favorites are in contention, and it's very exciting, we will be paying a fairly good amount of attention to the event. Sure, other golf events and other sports are going on at the same time. Sure there's late breaking news from around the world. Sure, Miss Jane is peddling jewels on QVC. And sure we've got Little League, church functions, weddings, grocery shopping and whatever else.

But by golly Lefty, we know you're there for Criminy's sake.

Of course if you're not there, well - whose fault is that?

Thanx-A-Lot (but not necessarily to you Phil),
Frank-0-Sport

Bravo, Frank-0.....here's a player that contends that shortening the season will attract more of the top players to more tournaments......isn't the Tour Championship this week????...and where are you Phil?????

"So Phil: Does this mean all the desserts and side dishes distract you from the Main Course meal?" Doesn't look like it.

You've listed lots of facts.....but not one that disproves Phil's contention that opposing PGA Tour events dilutes the product.

<threadjack> When will people stop making juvenile wisecracks about people's weight, clothing or looks in general? I for one have long hair and wear plaid pants, much to the dismay of most golfers ("You'd better be good to wear pants like that!")... what a shame in this day and age that people are judged (and ridiculed) for the outward appearance. </threadjack>

if i made $30+ million a year i'd eat to my heart's content, too. these posts are all made in good fun. everyone knows phil's a little overweight and he probably knows it himself. i'm sure any sleep won't be lost by stating the obvious. and as for those pants... if darren clarke wears em they must be cool

Your kidding right? He was being funny not personal. We need to be a little more thick skined around here.

I would make fun of you too

Sorry, I WAS being funny, (at least I thought I was), but it was done in jest on a personal level as well. I wouldn't do it to someone I didn't know on a serious level. <sorry <sort of> if anyone couldn't "read" that.>

Unfortunately for him, I happen to be able to copy this and email it to him to add to the other "personal" cracks I can throw at him over here. He and a whole lot of other professionals are lucky I'm not good enough yet to qualify for an event.
They'd be hearing these "cracks" all day long. Anything for me to make the cut, and earn a last place check that probably still would be more than I deserved.

And I'm a little short, bald, guy with a tribe of children that can take it just as well as I give it.

The Southern Farm Bureau tourny wasn't even on TV so how could it hurt the "big" product

I think that Phil has a point. If a PGA Tour event is held during Majors or WGC events, th emoney won in those events counts in the end of year tables as does the win. Who cares who won the BC Open because all the real men were playing elsewhere?

Opposite field events count as much for the Ryder Cup team as does the Tour Championship, Players Championship, Memorial, Colonial, Bay Hill, and the Tournament of Champions. That may be partially the reason we lose the Ryder Cup.

But how often are the guys playing in those opposite field events actually in the running for Ryder Cup spots? I would think that the top guys on the US Ryder Cup points list would more than likely be playing the bigger events as opposed to the BC Opens and Reno-Tahoes of the world.

Didn't Fred Funk skip the British Open this year to gain Cup points in an opposing event?