Mickelson Masters Augusta Again

Tiger Woods dominated the headlines, but Phil Mickelson earned his third green jacket at the Masters golf tournament Sunday.

Mickelson won with a collection of great shots and eagles in the final rounds to win by three strokes over Lee Westwood.  To top it off, his sick wife flew all the way from the West Coast to see him win it.

Woods finished tied for fourth place with K.J. Choi, the playing partner he had all during the tournament.  That's pretty good considering this was his first tournament in several months.  Any guesses as to why that is?

Everyone, it seemed, was watching the Masters to see how Woods would play after so much time off.  There were the inevitable distractions that even Augusta National Golf Club, notorious for the tight control over its tournament, couldn't foresee.  As Tiger teed off Thursday, a small plane buzzed the course with one of those trailing messages in the sky.  Something about embracing Bootyism.

The club also couldn't protect Tiger from himself.  At times, when Woods hit an errant shot, folks watching on TV could hear him use words he promised he'd never use again on the course in his effort to get back in the good graces of the public.

It's all the antithesis of a commercial Nike started running showing a somber Woods listening to the voice of his late father asking him what he has learned.  It sounds creepy, but Nike's known for its too-cool-for-the-room marketing featuring athletes they have under contract.

For all his problems, Tiger Woods is still the straw that stirs pro golf's drink.  ESPN racked up record ratings for Thursday's opening round, and it's likely that CBS will get a similar bounce when their ratings come out soon for weekend coverage.

This may be an unfair comparison in light of recent events, but the new Masters champion has two things going for him.  Phil Mickelson has a stable marriage (as far as we know), and is riding a wave of good will because both his wife and mother are battling breast cancer.   Life is good for him right now.  As for Tiger Woods, it goes without saying that he needs work on the golf course and in his life.