Faldo vs. Mickelson, who was better?

[ExTrumpet]

Phil.

 

If not for some guy named Tiger, Phil might be in some goat conversations...if not for that dang slice at Winged Foot...

[woodriff]

Faldo. All day Faldo.

[braincramp52]

The PGA tour (and majors) is what golfers are remembered for. 44 wins on the main stage against 9 makes it a no Brainer for Phil. 

[MUNIGRIT]

On 8/24/2020 at 11:14 AM, ExTrumpet said:

Phil.

 

If not for some guy named Tiger, Phil might be in some goat conversations...if not for that dang slice at Winged Foot...

It was actually the 2nd shot that blew it. He had a clear shot to the green and pushed the iron into the tree on the left. 

[ExTrumpet]

On 9/1/2020 at 5:20 PM, MUNIGRIT said:

It was actually the 2nd shot that blew it. He had a clear shot to the green and pushed the iron into the tree on the left. 

 

Never should have hit driver to begin with.  

[dlygrisse]

2 hours ago, ExTrumpet said:

 

Never should have hit driver to begin with.  

What if he would have hit a 3 iron in the trees?  I don’t know, I always thought it was the 2nd shot that did him in. If he would have just punched out to 50 yards or so from the green he would have made bogey at worst. He was hitting it crooked all day that day no matter what he used as I recall. 

[tannyhoban]

Phil. Faldo got out just in the Nick of time.

[iBanesto]

On 8/25/2020 at 4:14 AM, ExTrumpet said:

Phil.

 

If not for some guy named Tiger, Phil might be in some goat conversations...if not for that dang slice at Winged Foot...

 

Anyone know how many tournaments Mickelson finished 2nd to Tiger?

[braincramp52]

11 hours ago, iBanesto said:

 

Anyone know how many tournaments Mickelson finished 2nd to Tiger?

 

9 times. 

[bscinstnct]

On 8/24/2020 at 2:14 PM, ExTrumpet said:

Phil.

 

If not for some guy named Tiger, Phil might be in some goat conversations...if not for that dang slice at Winged Foot...

 

This is an interesting question from the standpoint of how being #1 would have impacted Phil’s overall confidence level, stature, and approach to the game.

 

I remember these 2 brothers back in my Uncle Rico days. One was the starting QB, top student, “big man on campus”. The other was...not. It’s questionable if his older brother was not so accomplished whether he would have had the talent to be as accomplished. But, I can say for sure that he kind of assumed this role of the goofy, not so focused, “party guy”, and part of it was due to him knowing his bro was “the man” so why bother trying as hard.

 

Not to say this is a direct analogy to Phil. But Phil spent 270 weeks ranked #2. He has always known there was a guy who was just flat out better than him.

 

But what is TW was not in the picture and he knew and everybody knew he was the best?

 

Would it have developed into a self fulfilling situation of him assuming that role, working harder, playing the game more conservatively, and having an even better record?

Edited September 6, 2020 by bscinstnct

[Hawkeye77]

On 8/24/2020 at 1:14 PM, ExTrumpet said:

Phil.

 

If not for some guy named Tiger, Phil might be in some goat conversations...if not for that dang slice at Winged Foot...

 

If not for 19 firsts Jack finished second to, he'd have 37 majors - how many seconds Tiger? (Oh yes, those deep fields and he was always "going for it", lol).  Just poking the rest of the bears, but not the Golden Bear, lol.

 

Plenty of tourneys Nick could have won but didn't, pointless to go there with Phil/Nick or Tiger/Jack or the Buffalo Bills.

 

Phil is so goofy, he could play in a major with no other competitors and still get beaten by himself (but wait, does that mean he really won?).

Edited September 6, 2020 by Hawkeye77

[Outpost31]

Phil 

[Catty]

Faldo.

[ExTrumpet]

20 hours ago, Hawkeye77 said:

 

If not for 19 firsts Jack finished second to, he'd have 37 majors - how many seconds Tiger? (Oh yes, those deep fields and he was always "going for it", lol).  Just poking the rest of the bears, but not the Golden Bear, lol.

 

Plenty of tourneys Nick could have won but didn't, pointless to go there with Phil/Nick or Tiger/Jack or the Buffalo Bills.

 

Phil is so goofy, he could play in a major with no other competitors and still get beaten by himself (but wait, does that mean he really won?).

 

Certainly can't disagree with any of this!  I've always placed Jack as the goat, but Tiger at least makes it a conversation.

[bscinstnct]

On 8/31/2020 at 10:29 PM, woodriff said:

Faldo. All day Faldo.

 

Except for days at the US Open or PGA ; )

[8milespast]

Yeah, there's no way Faldo wins 44 times on a stacked PGA Tour as a full-time member. European fields in the 80s-90s were a hell of a lot weaker than the US fields in the 90s/00s/10s

[ExTrumpet]

19 hours ago, 8milespast said:

Yeah, there's no way Faldo wins 44 times on a stacked PGA Tour as a full-time member. European fields in the 80s-90s were a hell of a lot weaker than the US fields in the 90s/00s/10s

 

Perhaps not, but we can only accurately judge players by their own era.  How would Faldo have fared with today's equipment/teaching/technology/training/etc.?  None of us could ever know.

[JD3]

Faldo's mind + mickelson's talent probably = tom watson, who has a better record in majors than both. But faldo developed his kind because he didn't have mickelson's kind of talent (certainly not length) and mickelson the thinking goes wouldn't be mickelson without all the risk taking and creative shots out of trouble. 

Edited September 8, 2020 by JD3

[Texas1]

Faldo all day long

phils a one trick pony. Not even in the top 20 all time. Too many times he flattered to deceive. 
 

Figjam is a legend in his own mind only ?

[Shilgy]

2 hours ago, Texas1 said:

Faldo all day long

phils a one trick pony. Not even in the top 20 all time. Too many times he flattered to deceive. 
 

Figjam is a legend in his own mind only ?

That’s a good one! 9th all time in wins and t14 all time majors but not in the top 20? Too funny!

[braincramp52]

13 hours ago, Texas1 said:

Faldo all day long

phils a one trick pony. Not even in the top 20 all time. Too many times he flattered to deceive. 
 

Figjam is a legend in his own mind only ?

 

Time to get back on your meds there Tex.

[Texas1]

I keep hearing about if it wasn’t for tiger nonsense and it really is nonsense

 

what happened in the years preceding Tiger coming on the scene. How many majors, that’s right the square root of zero

 

and when tiger got injured nows the time to take his mantel

 

wait what, crickets I hear

 

my god even Luke got to number 1

in the world

 

figjam sums him up perfectly

Someone said if it wasn’t for tiger he could be described as 2nd in goat

 

too funny ? 

 

give me Faldo seve and a score of other golfers over Phil

[braincramp52]

4 hours ago, Texas1 said:

I keep hearing about if it wasn’t for tiger nonsense and it really is nonsense

 

what happened in the years preceding Tiger coming on the scene. How many majors, that’s right the square root of zero

 

and when tiger got injured nows the time to take his mantel

 

wait what, crickets I hear

 

my god even Luke got to number 1

in the world

 

figjam sums him up perfectly

Someone said if it wasn’t for tiger he could be described as 2nd in goat

 

too funny ? 

 

give me Faldo seve and a score of other golfers over Phil

 

He won 5 majors before Tiger got hurt. What the hell you talkin' about? Also had 4 wins in 96 and won on the PGA as a amateur. I understand Phil must have kicked your dog or something but you're not even making sense.

Edited September 9, 2020 by braincramp52

[BlackDiamondPar5]

4 hours ago, Texas1 said:

I keep hearing about if it wasn’t for tiger nonsense and it really is nonsense

 

what happened in the years preceding Tiger coming on the scene. How many majors, that’s right the square root of zero

 

and when tiger got injured nows the time to take his mantel

 

wait what, crickets I hear

 

my god even Luke got to number 1

in the world

 

figjam sums him up perfectly

Someone said if it wasn’t for tiger he could be described as 2nd in goat

 

too funny ? 

 

give me Faldo seve and a score of other golfers over Phil

In not too many years Phil will be eclipsing Faldo in a second career, in the broadcast booth. ?

[iBanesto]

[TheMoneyShot]

Phil of course😃

[iBanesto]

[ALIF]

On 8/24/2020 at 11:14 AM, ExTrumpet said:

Phil.

 

If not for some guy named Tiger, Phil might be in some goat conversations...if not for that dang slice at Winged Foot...

Exactly! And Faldo would have even less majors it wasn’t for Norman choking them up to him.

[MUNIGRIT]

Same answer it has always been. Phil.

[jimb]

I don't know how you can ignore longevity.  I was a huge Faldo fan when he was the world number one, but Phil has an amazing record.  This win of the PGA at his age would be a tie breaker if that were an issue.