Okay, let’s say you are Tiger Woods. You are the best golfer in the world. You are a hot property and a cool customer (except for his “swear and glare” when things don’t go well.)  It seems the only thing you (Tiger) feel responsible for is getting to the first tee and he is not doing even that now. Tiger “communicates” (website) with us, but he does not talk to us. Would you talk to us? We do not even know if these are Tiger’s words. He sounds composed and chatty, but is he? Are these words written by lawyers in his name?  What is Tiger’s reponsiblility to us? That is what has been discussed over these recent days.

Back to tiger, I won’t go through the entire list but I think the golfer’s #1 responisibility is ’self-reporting.’ For example, when you have grounded your club (you are about to putt) and the ball is blown by the wind and moves, that will cost you a stroke. Do you slowly raise your head and look around to see if anyone was watching? You know, maybe you can save a stroke if no one noticed. The golfer is expected to call a stroke on himself.

You are expected to reposition yourself over the ball and add a stroke to your tally; hence,  self-reporting. Honesty is the more important than winning in golf.

A year ago, Steve Williams, Tiger’s caddie said, “I wouldn’t call (Phil) Mickelson a great player, ’cause I hate the [expletive]….”

Phil Mickelson responded with class when he said, “After seeing Steve Williams’ comments all I could think of was how lucky I am to have a class act like Bones ( Mickelson’s caddie) on my bag and representing me.”

Mickelson’s coach, Butch Harmon said of Williams’ remark, “Golf is a game of honor and integrity and that was a very uncalled for remark. I don’t think it’s any reflection of what Tiger thinks of Phil Mickelson.”

Out of these three words; honesty (self-reporting), honor and integrity, there is not one of them that currently describes Tiger Woods. Yet, Phil Mickelson who (by the way) was looking buffed out toward the end of this year is described by all those words. I was watching THE TOUR Championship when I noticed that Phil had some “GUNS.” One of the announcers mentioned it, too. So, add buffed out to Phil’s attributes – honest, honorable, imbued with integrity and buffed out.

Remember this year Phil won 4 tournaments (Northern Trust Open, World Golf Championships-CA Championship, World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions, and THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola) on a schedule reduced because of his wife’s and Mom’s cancer this year. It is quite possible that Phil will contend for World Number 1 over the next couple of years.

Indeed, if Tiger does not return to golf by spring, Phil should step up and fill the gap as the best golfer on the tour. Commentators will be obliged to give Phil the respect he is due. The fact that this has not already been part of the conversation shows a loss of opportunity by the PGA Tour to start doing damage control. Phil does not have to talk about Tiger Woods. Phil has to talk about Amy and the kids,  about his struggles with golf and how this year he has overcome serious hurdles, but through it all he has been classy and has had a smile for the fans.

Phil Mickelson is the face of golf!