Tin Cup Vegas

I was first introduced to Phil Mickelson back in 1996.  I was a very young caddy at a golf course near Boston and I was just struggling to play and enjoy the game of golf.  I tried to get out as often as I could, but as a caddy you are at the bottom of the list for late afternoon tee times.   Relegated to only Monday play, and often sharing the course with the grounds crew making repairs, it was hard not to develop an animosity to the members who viewed me as “just a caddy”.

1996 marked the release of the great golf movie “Tin Cup” starring Kevin Costner.  Early in the movie a baby-faced Phil Mickelson played in the group with David Sims (played by Don Johnson) and took bets on if the caddy, Roy “Tin Cup” McAvoy would be able to make a challenging shot.  My memory is Phil betting against the caddy as mumbles of “he’s just a caddy” wafted through the crowd.

And so it was. Phil Mickelson, albeit just in a movie, represented every country club member who didn’t think a simple caddy could play on the same course as him.  I’m sure Phil is actually a good guy, but my young brain was set that day.

Fast forward to this past Sunday.  18^th hole. Par 5. Long carry over water. Hmmm….sounds familiar.

It’s a three way battle between Bubba Watson, Phil, and newcomer Jhonny Vegas.

Watson is sitting a million miles down the center of the fairway with 186 yards in for what is a sure 2-putt birdie and a two shot lead.  Vegas is first to play.

Jhonny is starring at 217 yards out of the first cut of rough. He’s assuming Bubba makes birdie so he needs to make Eagle to force a playoff.   He pulls out the 5-iron and really leans on it.

As the ball sailed in the air Vegas is yelling, “GO BALL!” eerily similar to Roy McAvoy willing his ball over the water on 18 for an eagle try that would give him the US Open title.  No playing it safe for either of these guys.  Go Ball!  Clear the water! Give me a chance!

Splash and splash. Both McAvoy and Vegas met the same fate.  Ball in the water.  Title hopes dashed and a disappointed following.  Vegas would make bogie and finish in a tie for third. Vegas failed, but he failed valiantly.

Then, standing 226 yards away from the pin, like a Clint Eastwood character with a club in hand, Mickelson is starring at the pin. It’s time to go big or go home.  Eagle and we go to extra holes.  A birdie and it’s steak knives. 226 yards from the rough.  This is the man who laced a fairway metal from between two trees, over water, 6 feet from the pin on the way to a Masters green jacket. He’s got this.

But then, in David Simms style, Phil pokes an iron down to 100 yards.  A perfect layup, but a layup nevertheless. 

Theatrics and bravado aside, the chances of holing out from 100 yards is slim at best. Sure he came close, but golf doesn’t give partial credit for close shots.  Phil made a tap in birdie and walked away with sole possession of 2^nd place. Bubba Watson walked away with the trophy. 

Nice birdie, Phil.