Good Morning Grateful Golfers! I hope your weekend is going well and that you able to hit the links. I stumbled across this compilation of Phil Mickelson’s flop shots and had to share. He is the standard that I want to achieve on my journey to be a better golfer.
Here is what I mean:
On a completely different not, I came across a quote my Phil about attending the US Open. He said he would not accept a special exemption. He would earn his way:
“I won’t accept it,” Mickelson said at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, where he won last year for his 44th career PGA TOUR victory. “So I am either going to get in the field on my own or I’ll have to try to qualify. I’m not going to take a special exemption.”
https://www.pgatour.com/news/2020/02/05/phil-mickelson-says-he-wont-accept-us-open-exemption.html
I think that at turning 50, this is a bold move. I also think this is how all golfers should make the cut to a tournament. I understand the “draw factor”, but is this not what professional sports should be like. Play your way into the big tournaments?
Phil continues excite the masses with his approach to golf. I think it is one of the all-time greats and applaud his decision to earn his way into the 2020 US Open field. Play well and shoot low, Phil!
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
The Grateful Golfer 
Jim, professional golf is superior to the four major team sports because it’s as close to a pure meritocracy as you’ll find. The last holdout has been this special exemption thing. I’m loving that Phil has taken this on head first. He makes a statement to the USGA and PGA Tour that to cross the finish line, they need to ensure the best players are in competition for the titles. Special exemptions are fine, but keep them on the senior tour – IMO.
Thanks!
Brian
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Brian,
I agree. I understand special/sponsor exemptions for regular tour events because it is about creating hype and money. However the Majors are something different and entry needs to be earned. If he was injured for a long period of time, I can see how a special exemption would be okay. But, not if his game slides to a point where he did not even qualify.
Cheers Jim
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Jim, what if his game slides to that point because of an injury. Let him in even if there are more deserving players on merit?
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Brian,
What I mean is that he was injured and has worked his game back to play to play at the Major level. I realize that this is a tough situation but I think of Tiger, Rory, John Cook, as examples where injury sidelined them for a long time and yet they made it back. They needed a bit of help to make a comeback. Some were successful, others not so much. There are always examples of when a special exemption can work, but not for someone who continues to play, but their game is lacking and the tournament wants them in the field for the hype. Phil definitely falls in that category this year. Phil is taking the right approach by saying he will earn his way into the event.
Cheers Jim
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