That’s Wet! a Golf blog in West Palm Beach Florida

I was just watching an NBC segment by Jimmy Roberts about the Tiger Woods - Phil Mickelson rivalry. The piece centered on the somewhat miraculous win that Phil posted last week in The Fedex Cup over Tiger Woods. Phil, playing along side Tiger over three out of four rounds of the Deutsche Bank Championship managed to best Woods. Out of 150 or so tries, Phil Mickelson has only won 10 times.  Mickelson didn’t melt down under Tiger’s searing scowl and he didn’t self destruct.

“For 10 years, I’ve struggled against Tiger,” Mickelson said. “The way I was able to answer with a couple birdies when Tiger was making his charge it felt pretty good. As we all know, he finishes better than anybody else. He certainly tried to do that today. I was able to hold him off.” - Phil Mickelson

This put Mickelson in first place for the Fedex Cup playoffs which will culminate in Atlanta next weekend with a $10 million dollar pay out and a gleaming new Fedex Cup trophy on someone’s mantle. It’s no wonder then that the media and a lot of fans are all a little surprised that Phil would pass up a chance to continue building Fedex Cup points by skipping this week’s BMW Championship. To answer that question I believe you need to look no further than the very man that has shadowed Phil’s brilliant career. Tiger.

Much has been made of Tiger missing the first week of the four event Fedex Cup playoffs. Tiger cited a tough regular season schedule and weariness from his wins at the brutal PGA Championship and WGC events. Please. This is the best conditioned athlete in Golf. Tiger doesn’t need to play and he didn’t feel like it. All the ‘where’s Tiger’ first round Tiger talk switched focus this week to speculation as to Phil Mickelson’s motivation when he announced in his victory round press conference that he would skip this weeks BMW Championship.

Most media pundits are now taking Phil’s comments about why he’s not playing at face-value. Phil says he wanted to be at his kids first day of school. His focus on family is well known and it’s likely a very real reason why Phil didn’t play this week. There’s also his comments about PGA Tour Commish Tim Finchem ignoring his feedback about the Fedex Cup. Fellow elite player Ernie Els skipped the Deutsche Bank citing the same school/kids reason. But there are others. These are no doubt primary reasons that Phil skipped this week but as my story byline suggests, I don’t think it’s the main reason or the best reason that Phil skipped this week.

The Fedex Cup uses a season-long points standing to qualify players for the four event playoffs BUT once the the players enter the playoffs their points are all reset to zero. Everyone is equal and has the same opportunity to win. This prevents a season dominating player like Tiger from being the run away favorite and potentially discouraging competitors and fans alike from paying any semblance of attention to the playoffs. In this case what is good for T.V. revenue is likely best for fans as well.

When Tiger decided to skip the first week of the Fedex Cup championship it set in motion Phil’s decision to skip this week’s event. The final nail in the coffin in Phil’s decision not to play was Phil winning week two against Tiger. If Phil had played this week and then the final week he would have played all four events - one more than Tiger. And if Phil played well in all the events he could have beat Tiger, not with comparable play, but with the extra points he would have earned by playing one more event.

“Now the next step is to try to hopefully go head-to-head in a major. We don’t get paired very often in majors, and hopefully next year we’ll have a chance to do that.” Phil Mickelson

To any mortal player this very advantage would be a welcome way to make up the edge Tiger so clearly holds - but not Phil. Phil rightly sees himself as Tiger’s peer. Phil wants to beat Tiger heads-up. Just like he’s always dreamed of doing in a major championship. Just like he did last week in week two of the Fedex Cup. Just like Tiger, Phil doesn’t need the money from the Fedex Cup and he doesn’t need a hollow title.

I think Phil’s strong appreciation of Golf history and respect for the game would demand no less of a reaction. As I write this Tiger leads the final round of the BMW. This will vault him in to first place in the Fedex Cup playoff standings. As I see it this places Tiger right where Phil wants him. Phil wants to show up in Atlanta and do the unthinkable. The miraculous. Phil wants to live the Cinderella story. And I love Phil for daring to dream it. We all do.

No matter who wins next week, I’m glad Phil skipped the BMW Championship this week. I’m glad for his family but I’m even more glad for our sport.  I don’t think Phil can admit all his motivations now but I believe the Tiger factor to be his key driving motivation.

And if Phil accomplishes his worthy goal next week he’ll make history, he’ll win tremendous accolades and love from fans. He’ll earn everyone’s respect, most importantly his own. And his family’s.