Mickelson WDs from Boston pro-am
Less than a week after blasting a rule that cost Jim Furyk a spot in the field at The Barclays for missing his pro-am tee time, Phil Mickelson has withdrawn from Thursday’s pro-am at TPC Boston the Golf Channel has learned.
Unlike Furyk, however, Mickelson’s withdrawal will not cost him a spot at the second playoff event because Lefty used a special option that allows top players to miss a pro-am. Instead the player must participate in an “alternative sponsor function.”
Players who finished in the top 30 on the previous year’s money or FedEx Cup lists have two pro-am opt outs that are contingent on sponsor approval. Mickelson used his first opt out earlier this year at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and instead had dinner with a handful of corporate clients.
On Friday Mickelson will attend an “evening function” with Deutsche Bank chief executive officer Seth Waugh and several guests to make up for his missed tee time.
According to Andy Pazder, the Tour’s senior vice president of tournament administration, this is the first year of the opt out provision and only about “a half dozen” players have used it.
“In a pro-am three or four amateurs are going to get five hours with Phil on the golf course, which is great, but maybe it’s better if you have a dinner with 20 executives and clients for two or three hours,” Pazder said. “Maybe that’s a better use of a player’s time.”
Last Wednesday Mickelson criticized the pro-am rule which cost Furyk five spots on the current FedEx Cup points list saying, “it's not protecting the players. It's not protecting the sponsors. It applies to only half the field and yet it affects the integrity of the competition. I cannot disagree with it more.”
On Tuesday the PGA Tour suspended the pro-am policy, which was approved in 2004, for the remainder of the 2010 season and will review the policy in November at the Policy Board meeting.
Anyone wish to discuss? I am shocked atm that he would use an opt out so close to Furyk being side lined a week ago for accidently over sleeping. Now any of the top 30 can opt out a couple of times a year as long as they go to Cooperate dinners?...Come on!
Phil is still participating in a sponsor event by having dinner with the excutives of Deutsche Bank, so he's still on the hook for an "event."
Might be just me, but I think this arthritis thing may be worse for Phil than he is letting on. Or it may be that since he missed the cut last week he wants to be on course in a "very focused" manner. As we know, the stakes are hight this week and with his MC last week, he has to play well this week.
I don't see this as a big deal. Last weeks mess is the Tour's fault....
Phil was against the playoff timing. He wants to be with him family as they get back to school. He's been very vocal about that in the past.
I would guess that most players use their 2 opt outs allowed to do the same thing.
I saw a quote from Bob Murphy (who also has this condition) saying it drove him from golf. so i agree with Tar Heel that this is bothering him more than he lets on.
Phil is still playing by the rules set forth by the TOUR.
Imagine being the poor guys/ladies who ponied up big cash for the pro-am, expected to play with Phil Mickelson, probably haven't slept for weeks in anticipation, and now... Ugh.Hope that group at least gets a pro who's personable and fun in Phil's place.
I would want to skip all pro-am's if I were in his shoes. It's too bad they can only opt out of 2.
I could care less if he skips out or not, it's his decision and as long as he had fun, no big deal!
My problem is that for years they have talking about how PGA golfers are "independent contractors" and can play whenever they want. Now that the golfers have this mentality things like pro-ams and dinners with sponsers do not feel a part of the jod. When in reality its those people that make the big purses for these players and give them the opportunity to be a pro. I would like to see the PGA be more strict with players on when they play and how often, not to be jerks but to push the game to the next level.
I however do understand Phil's argument about being around his family during back to school time but don't you think the MLB and NFL players feel the same way too? They are playing and in training camp when their kids go back but they don't try and get out of it (Farve being the acception haha). The PGA is pretty soft on players and maybe its time to be a bit tougher on them.
I agree with what everyone is saying in this post. Phil has a lot going on with his health, as rest of his family atm.
What I was concerned with was the timing , so soon after Furyk was DQ'd.
Truthfully, any sponser would receive a lot more time if the Tour players did attend dinners/luncheons. They could have more than 3 -4 individuals present to meet with the Tour player, which I agree would be nice.
BUT..... This only emplies to the top 30 players in the world. If the rule only emplies to the top 30 players how is it fair?
I thought the main idea behind the entire pro-am program was to let the sponsors actually meet and play golf with the tour players.
Let's also look at smaller Tournaments that don't produce the same revenue as some of the others do. You know, the one's Tiger or Phil would not even darken their door steps. Heck, even Stricker plays the John Deere Classic and they do have a decent purse and incentives.
example..I have a few friends that actually sponsored during the Nationwide event in Knoxville. They are a small company, decent revenue, however small scale compaired to most Corporate giants. Even for this event, I believe the cost was 6k-10k. How would you feel if you payed 6 k - 10k to play golf with a tour player and all of a sudden he opts out? Different circumstances, I do agree, compairing the Nationwide Tour to the PGA Tour...... I am only trying to draw a parody to the two here.
Lets' face it folks, we are talking about pampered players with a lot higher revenue than the majority of us. All expenses are paid by their sponsers, play well (keep the rankings up) and you will continue to make a fortune. Does this sound harsh? No, just truthful.
If the Tour wishes to have a "meet and greet" that is fine. Just call it that and be done with it, get rid of the Pro Am all together. I know there are some players that feel they are above playing with higher handicappers, so be it. In others defense, they say they like the pro am's and I do believe some do.
All of it still comes down to one thing that has nothing to do about Golf folks, which is money. We have events that are faltering because lack of player support. If you cannot get the top players to play, the larger sponsers don't want any part of it, which is sad. We are already seeing several events being moved and/or cancelled because of this.
On a different subject:
However, I will have to say that I did have fun playing golf with Kenny Perry a few years ago. I have a friend that knows him very well. I was in Kentucky visiting and I was asked to bring my clubs, that's a no brainer. Imagine the shock when I went to the clubhouse and met up with the remainder of our foursome. He was very friendly and curtious during the entire time. You know what the cost was for me to meet and play golf with him? ..... Greenfees...yep, that was all. Probably something that I will never forget in my lifetime.
Thanks
Tim
Phil has to be hurting. I saw him at the Barclays and he hit most of his tee shots left. I think his health had more to do with it then he is saying. He played in the Pro-Am, but then again Barclays is one of his sponsors. I think his health is a concern of his and then again he may just be trying to prove a point of how unfair this Pro-Am rule is and how it only affects some PGA members.
I do understand how mad the people who paid to play with them might be, but I would assume there would be a refund/discount if they did not get what they paid for. After all, it's still a business and they don't want unsatisfied customers.
Phil is basically a family man and I can understand his wanting to be with them at the beginning of their school year. As to playing with those who paid to play with a Pro, it is my understanding that the PGA assigns players to a group of sponsors with which they have to play. Sponsors and others cannot choose who they play with directly, but may only request to allowed to play with a certain Pro if possible. And Phil is honoring his obligation by other means so he really doesn't need the grief from those that disagree with his opt-out.
I agree with everyone's comments..Phil is definitely not feeling well as evident by the way he's playing.
Pro-ams are nice because the amateurs will get to play with the pro, obviously, but the pro is likely to be more tired the first round because of the extra effort that he used during the pro-am.