Phil Mickelson did not win the British Open last Sunday, but in defeat reminded us few golfers can deliver more compelling theater.
Ever.
Mickelson's daring shot-making, unrivaled short game and nerve even at age 46 produced a bogey-free 65 . But he ran into a buzz saw -- 40-year-old Henrik Stenson -- and suffered more major championship heartbreak.
Mickelson's near-misses, including 11 runner-ups in majors, combined with 42 PGA Tour victories (five majors) put him in the conversation of the top-10 golfers ever.
For those scoring at home, my list has some obvious omissions, among them Walter Hagen, Gene Sarazen, Lee Trevino and Nick Faldo.
• 1. Tiger Woods.
The Buzz: Until scandal and injuries derailed his career, Woods enjoyed a stretch of dominance unseen in golf -- if not all of sports. Most are aware of his 79 victories and 14 majors. But Woods at one time held the scoring record in all four majors. He won at least five consecutive tournaments three different times, something two players did once each (Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan).
• 2. Jack Nicklaus.
The Buzz: Nicklaus' record 18 majors likely will never be challenged, while his mark of 19 runner-up finishes also appears safe. And will anyone win majors over the course of four decades? He added a record eight Senior Tour majors, too.
• 3. Ben Hogan.
The Buzz: Hogan was enjoying Tiger-like dominance in the late 1940s -- winning 31 tournaments (three majors) in three-year span -- when he nearly died in a 1949 car crash. He returned to win six of his nine majors -- 10 if you count the wartime U.S. Open in 1942. Three of those major titles came in 1953, including his only appearance in the British Open.
• 4. Bobby Jones.
The Buzz: Won the Grand Slam in 1930, and soon retired at age 28 -- with 13 majors to his credit compiled during just eight years. Jones later founded the Masters tournament. Incredibly, Jones played at the level he did using hickory-shafted clubs and wearing a tie. If you happen to catch one of Jones' How I Play Golf shows, it is something to behold.
• 5. Sam Snead.
The Buzz: Had the most effortless, graceful swing in golf history -- and owned it into his 70s. Snead is the oldest PGA Tour tournament winner, at 52, to go with a Tour-record 82 victories. Including the Senior Tour, he won events over six decades.
• 6. Arnold Palmer.
The Buzz: Palmer won big -- 62 times on Tour, seven majors and 10 runner-ups in them. But his biggest accomplishment was growing the game. Arnie took the golf to the people, pushed tournament purses to another level, popularized golf on television and signed more autographs than any athlete ever has. Few Americans played the British Open until Palmer did.
• 7. Byron Nelson.
The Buzz: Nelson's 1945 season alone earns him a spot. That year, he won 18 times, including a record 11 consecutive. His scoring average of 68.45 was the standard until Tiger's 2000 season. Nelson won 52 times, including five majors. When he abruptly retired after his monster season at age 34, Nelson had Ben Hogan's number
• 8. Gary Player.
The Buzz: Golf's first international star claims 165 victories worldwide, including nine majors. He is one of five men to win all four. His closing 64 to erase a seven-shot deficit and win the 1978 Masters at age 42 might be the finest final round no one really mentions.
• 9. Tom Watson.
The Buzz: Watson chipped-in on the 17th hole at Pebble Beach to beat Jack at the 1982 U.S. Open -- and a month later won one of his five British Opens. At age 59, Watson nearly won a sixth one. Joins Snead as the best golfer in his 60s.
• 10. Phil Mickelson.
The Buzz: The most-creative short game ever and a swashbuckling style have produced brilliant golf for decades. Phil's duel with Tiger at Doral in 2005 -- when a lipped-out birdie chip on 18 gave Woods a one-shot victory -- was as compelling as Sunday's Open final versus Stenson.
Sports on 07/25/2016