You Have to Love Phil

You just do. For some reason, I know that some golf fans don't like him. I have no idea how this could possibly be. He wears a constant smile on his face, he high fives fans, he hugs his wife and kids after he wins tournaments, and he pulls off shots like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXbeMwLzMW8

Are you freaking serious? Who tries that shot? Phil has taken some heat over the years for his flamboyant way of playing golf (see: 2006, Winged Foot, 72nd hole, driver), but you have to respect his consistency. He has lost majors playing like this, and now he has won them doing so. The only difference is, this time Phil pulled that shot off in the middle of a bogey-free 67, which has to rank among the best clutch rounds I've seen.

How could you not love that guy? I mean, seriously? Can someone explain this to me? Apparently some "insiders" claim that he's cocky. Fine. He might be. But I'm not going to ignore overwhelming evidence to the contrary (see above) just for the sake of trying to be seen as an "insider."

Now, to G's point. On the surface, it sounds absurd to rank Phil among the best golfers of all time. But he has a point about the Masters. This win gives Phil 3 green jackets, which ranks behind only 3 players in history. I would say that at this point, his record at the other majors is probably a little too scant to rank him among the greatest of all time. However, what this win MIGHT do is make him the currently reigning king of Augusta National, even ahead of the Almighty Tiger himself. Phil has won 3 Masters since 2003; no one else, including El Tigre, has more than 1. I think that right now, in 2010, you might have to say that Phil's blend of shotmaking and large cajones might make him the best player at golf's most famous course, a place that traditionally rewards birdies as much as any major championship venue.

And who knows? At Pebble Beach, Phil's chances have to be high. If he raises that trophy, we may have to revisit this all-time question. Can't wait for that.