Phil Mickelson did not win the British Open, 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 wins (five majors) put him in the conversation of the top-10 golfers ever.
A win would have cinched a spot, but was good enough for me. I am a little biased — Phil, Jack, Seve Ballesteros and Johnny Miller are my dream foursome. I would keep score and flag down the cart girl.
For those scoring at home, my list has some obvious omissions, among them Walter Hagen, Gene Sarazen, Lee Trevino and Nick Faldo.
Give me Mickelson's natural talent and ability to excel during the Tiger Woods era. It took Phil awhile to adjust to Woods' dominance, but unlike Ernie Els, Sergio Garcia and a host of other supreme talents he embraced the challenge and became better for it.
Woods is my clear No. 1. But while Woods' career is on the ropes at age 40, Mickelson continues to build a resum already worthy of a spot in my top 10.
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 wins and 14 majors. But Woods at one time held the scoring record in all four majors. He won at least five straight tournaments three different times, something two players did once each (Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan). Woods holds the seven lowest season scoring averages since 1945. Then there is the clutch putting, Houdini-like escape ability, absurd shot-making, power, fist pumps, etc.
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. All told, Jack is among the greatest winners in the history of sports, not to mention one of the true gentlemen in defeat.
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. Besides his on-the course success, Hogan invented practice and could hit every club in the bag with equal efficiency. Likely the most revered play in the game's history.
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. Those shots would be wormburners for most of us.
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. If not for his misfortunes at the U.S. Open, Snead might be third here.
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. Sunday's Mickelson-Stenson duel might not have happened without The King.
7. Byron Nelson
The Buzz: Nelson's 1945 season alone earns him a spot. That year, he won 18 times, including a record 11 straight. 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. Hogan won his first major in 1946.
8. Gary Player
The Buzz: Golf's first international star claims 165 wins 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. Brought fitness to the game. It took some time for the trend to catch on, but at age 80 Player still does 1,300 crunches a day and can leg-press 300 pounds.
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. The definition of "old school," Watson deserves a pass on the 2014 Ryder Cup fiasco.
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. In a Golf Digest interview last year, caddie Steve Williams said he never saw golf played like Mickelson's front-nine 30 at the 2009 Masters. Williams, remember, was on the bag for 13 of Woods' major titles.
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