In pursuit of his first major championship, Phil Mickelson never saw the glass as anything but half-full.
Close calls didn't change that. He was runner-up in the PGA Championship at Atlanta in 2001, third in the Masters the next year and then gave Tiger Woods a stiff challenge at Bethpage Black in finishing runner-up at the U.S. Open.
"I think that it would be much more difficult to handle had I not even been in contention," Mickelson said. "I love to compete for these championships. ... And to be part of it, to be able to have a shot, compete in the end was a wonderful experience, even though I didn't win."
Fast forward 15 years to Rickie Fowler, who would appear to have the same positive outlook.
Fowler, 28, had arguably his best chance yet at a major in the U.S. Open, mainly because of his experience. He was two shots out of the lead at Erin Hills. He was one shot out of the lead at the Masters two months ago. He was in the final group at Royal Liverpool and in the penultimate group at Valhalla in 2014.
Sunday wasn't his best day off the tee on the front nine and holing putts on the back nine. It resulted in a 72, and what figured to be his biggest disappointment yet. But it sure didn't sound like one.
"If you look at the negatives too much, I mean, you're going to be stuck doing that the whole time," Fowler said. "You have to measure success in different ways, not just by winning, just because that doesn't happen a whole lot. I think Tiger had the best winning percentage of all time at 30 percent, and you're lucky to even sniff close to 10. You have to say, 'Hey, it's a major. We played well this week.'
"Even though the scores were somewhat lower than a normal U.S. Open, to finish in double digits under par at a major, especially the Open, it was a good week."
Mickelson didn't win his first major until he was 33.
Sergio Garcia, who didn't cope with losing nearly as well as Mickelson or Fowler, broke through this year at the Masters when he was 37.
Arresting development
From Dwight Perry of The Seattle Times:
"Three Nebraska football players have been cited for marijuana in less than a month.
"So for those of you scoring at home, the Cornhuskers are 0-3 on grass this offseason."
Homerless?
New York's Aaron Judge has 23 home runs this season, but the Yankees slugger will not commit to participating in next month's MLB Home Run Derby.
"I'm going to think about it for a while," Judge said. "Just haven't honestly thought about it. I'm more focused on what I can do for the team right now, and we'll see what I decide to do."
If Judge decides to compete July 10 at Marlins Park, it would potentially set up a mega-matchup with Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton. Stanton's 18 home runs this season don't measure up to Judge's, but you can be sure everybody at the Derby will remember the show he put on last year. He hit 61 home runs, a new Home Run Derby record by 20.
Sports quiz
What Major League Baseball team drafted Aaron Judge in 2010?
Sports answer
The Oakland A's in the 31st round.
Sports on 06/22/2017